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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — One month ago, Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni and his accountant were indicted on federal charges for allegedly stealing $100 million from disabled people nationwide.
Four days later, the Justice Department fired one of the lead prosecutors on the case.
He and two other former DOJ employees are now suing the Trump Administration. They believe the firings are political retribution for their involvement with January 6th prosecutions.
The federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration mentions the Leo Govoni case.
Former federal prosecutor Mike Gordon said he was hand-picked to join the Govoni case, with the instruction to get the case charged, five weeks before Attorney General Pam Bondi fired him without any warning or cause.
Victims, like Sean Burke, who lost everything fear whether this means justice will be delayed.
Seven years after an incident at a hospital left him a quadriplegic, Burke put his settlement money in a trust at the Pinellas County non-profit, Directed Benefits Foundation in 2023. This was at the advice of his attorneys.
Sean told Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller that $700,000 went missing.
“It has deeply affected my son’s care,” said Peggy Granier, Sean’s mom.
Sean and his family had thought the Foundation and its founder, Leo Govoni, would keep his money safe. The money was intended to provide for his future care.
“The money is gone,” said Granier.
Govoni and his accountant John Witeck were indicted on June 23rd for allegedly stealing $100 million from disabled people and using those funds to live a life of luxury. Four days later, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon successfully argued for Govoni’s detention.
“I was handpicked for that role based on my history, performance and my skills,” said Gordon.
“The time that I talked with Michael Gordon, he was very helpful, and I felt like he was listening to the concerns that I had,” said Erin Sumrall, Sean’s sister.
The next day, Gordon was fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“That same week that I was fired I had just indicted the biggest most important case in our district,” Gordon said.
His firing is now gaining national attention. Gordon shared his disbelief on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Friday.
“The prosecution of Leo Govoni should represent everything the Department of Justice stands for: the ability to do big cases and important cases, that touches people’s lives and that show that no matter who is in power that the Department of Justice would seek accountability for crimes against them and that even the most vulnerable people in our society will be protected by their government,” Gordon said.
Bondi’s dismissal letter cited Article II of the constitution, empowering the president but gave no cause. Gordon was one of three assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted Jan. 6 defendants on June 27.
Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked, “What does your termination say about the integrity of justice and the ability of the Middle District of Florida to get justice for the victims of Leo Govoni?”
“Says that this Administration is prioritizing revenge over the rule of law, prioritizing politics over justice,” Gordon responded. “I wasn’t fired for doing anything wrong. I lost my job because I did what was right.”
Now he and two other fired DOJ employees are suing President Trump, AG Bondi, and the DOJ. 8 On Your Side reached out to the Department of Justice and White House, but they have declined to comment on the lawsuit and firing.
“I feel like someone needs to step in that know the case as well as he did,” Burke said.
Gordon is reassuring victims and their families that his former colleagues are working on the case in the wake of his firing.
“You’re in good hands,” he said. “There are many talented, dedicated prosecutors in the Tampa U.S. Attorney’s Office that will be continuing to work on that case.”
His termination has created many questions that he said shouldn’t be there.
“There’s no reason for people to have to doubt the Department of Justice’s integrity or sincerity in pursuing this case or any case, but unfortunately, firing me has created that,” said Gordon.
Gordon said he was blindsided and so was Acting U.S. Attorney of the Middle District Greg Kehoe. He hasn’t commented on Gordon’s termination, but his office wrote: “The case against Leo Govoni and John Witeck will proceed as scheduled.”
“As upset as I am about being fired, I will be cheering on my former colleagues in every way that I can and supporting them in every way I can because those victims deserve justice,” said Gordon.
Leo Govoni and John Witeck have a detention hearing on August 14th and their trial is expected to begin on September 2nd. Govoni remains behind bars. Witeck has been released on a $500,000 bond.
