An FBI and Department of Homeland Security search of a Providence law office on Thursday has led to the resignation of Joseph Molina Flynn, a Rhode Island immigration lawyer and Municipal Court judge for Central Falls, officials confirmed.
Molina Flynn stepped down shortly after the search, Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera announced. “I was deeply concerned to see the reports of an FBI search at the law office of Joseph Molina Flynn,” Rivera said in a statement. “In an effort to uphold the integrity and focus of the Municipal Court, Judge Molina Flynn has officially resigned his position.”
The law office, founded by Molina Flynn in 2015, focuses on immigration, family, and criminal law. His appointment to the bench in 2021 was seen as historic, making him the first formerly undocumented judge in Rhode Island and the first openly gay person to hold the role in Central Falls, allegedly.
Authorities have not provided details about the nature or scope of the FBI’s investigation. It remains unclear whether the search was related to Molina Flynn’s legal practice, his judicial role, or other matters
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