D.C.'s federal prosecutors ordered to not pursue gun possession felony charges

• "We will continue to seize all illegal and unlicensed firearms, and to vigorously prosecute all crimes connected with them," Pirro said in a statement to Axios. "And we will continue to charge a felon in possession of any of these firearms."
• "Our resolve to prosecute crime is not lessened by defective DC code statutes, as the DOJ works to change those statutes. If anyone is carrying a weapon illegally, they will absolutely be charged."

Context: Pirro, a former judge and Fox News host, is a longtime Trump ally. She was confirmed by the Senate this month.

• She was assistant district attorney for Westchester County, New York, county judge and district attorney.

State of play: Until now, violation of the law could result in a fine and up to  five years of imprisonment.

• The policy shift comes as the Trump administration escalated law enforcement in the capital city and targets crime rates.
• Pirro's office will continue charging crimes of violence or firearms trafficking involving shotguns or rifles, the Washington Post reported. Prosecutors are also expected to continue charging people illegally possessing handguns.

• Suspects can still be charged for violent crimes with shotguns and firearms trafficking situations.

Zoom out: Pirro said D.C.'s policy ran counter to the Supreme Court's rulings on the right to bear arms.

• The new memo precludes "a separate charge of possession of a registered rifle or shotgun," Pirro said. "However, an unregistered shotgun or rifle is illegal and is a crime the local attorney general handles."

Go deeper: Jeanine Pirro targets guns and immigration in D.C.