Fishwick & Associates
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A trial law firm focused on Personal Injury and Federal criminal cases.
Can elected officials be held criminally responsible if their subordinates aren't prosecuting wrongdoers? Former U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. of Fishwick & Associates PLC weighs in on the Department of Justice's criminal referral of Governor Walz.
The referral alleges the governor failed to properly supervise his staff in pursuing fraud cases in Minnesota and should be held criminally responsible. Mr. Fishwick notes that holding officials criminally responsible for what subordinates did or didn't do is a very high bar, and that part of the investigation could be uphill for DOJ.
Instead, these investigations typically follow a standard path: whether the official lied to Congress when testifying, and whether any financial remuneration — such as a campaign contribution — influenced official decisions about which cases to prosecute. Mr. Fishwick does not expect a new law to be created holding someone criminally responsible for their subordinates' conduct.
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This does not constitute legal advice.
06/08/2026
John P. Fishwick Jr. is the founder of Fishwick & Associates PLC, a Roanoke, Virginia law firm that handles serious personal injury cases and federal criminal matters throughout Virginia. Before founding the firm, John served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, the chief law enforcement officer for the entire Western District. That role placed him inside the federal system at its highest operational level, working alongside federal agencies, litigating complex cases, and developing a firsthand understanding of how institutions, insurers, and prosecutors approach high-stakes matters.
https://www.fishwickandassociates.com/
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Address
30 Franklin Road, Suite 700
Roanoke, VA
24011
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
