Lawyers Say House Committee Plans Subpoena of Fairfax Prosecutor Steve Descano

Attorneys for Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said they were told the U.S. House Judiciary Committee intends to subpoena him this week and broaden its probe beyond immigration issues.

In a letter to Chairman Jim Jordan and immigration subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock, lawyers Michael Satin and Laura Ferguson said Descano testified voluntarily in May, produced more than 1,100 pages of documents and answered detailed questions. They called the escalation surprising after that cooperation.

According to the letter, committee staff now want information on prosecutorial decisions in individual cases, including all matters nolle prossed during Descano's tenure regardless of immigration status. Defense counsel said that demand is outside legitimate oversight and aimed at intimidating an elected local prosecutor.

Descano won nearly 78 percent of the vote in 2023 and maintains his office does not interfere with federal immigration enforcement. Scrutiny has also focused on the February 2026 killing of Stephanie Minter in Hybla Valley; defendant Abdul Jalloh is awaiting trial. The Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation of the office in May.

Email Steve Descano at:

Steve Descano: stephen.descano@fairfaxcounty.gov