The Justice Department announced Monday that it had fired over a dozen prosecutors involved in criminal investigations of Trump, sparking significant backlash and raising concerns about the independence of the department under the new administration.
The terminations targeted career prosecutors who worked on special counsel Jack Smith’s team, which investigated Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents. The move, effective immediately, comes just one week after Trump returned to office and signals the administration’s willingness to act decisively in reshaping the Justice Department to align with the president’s agenda.
“Today, Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of a number of DOJ officials who played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump,” a Justice Department official said in a statement. “In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda. This action is consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government.”
The decision breaks with long-standing Justice Department norms, which have traditionally protected rank-and-file prosecutors from political interference across administrations. The firings also follow the reassignment of senior career officials across multiple divisions, further signaling a department-wide shake-up under the new administration.
It remains unclear how many prosecutors affected by the terminations intend to challenge the decision, citing civil service protections typically afforded to federal employees. The Justice Department has not disclosed the full list of those fired, but the impact is expected to be significant as it includes individuals who worked on some of the most high-profile cases in recent history.
This marks the latest effort to reverse years of criminal investigations that shadowed Trump’s presidency and candidacy, resulting in multiple indictments. On his first day back in office, Trump issued sweeping pardons to more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, including leaders of extremist groups convicted of violent acts.
Trump’s control over the Justice Department has been a long-standing focus of his presidency, with repeated demands for loyalty from federal law enforcement officials. His newly appointed attorney general, Pam Bondi, has vowed to act independently, though she has not ruled out investigations into Trump’s adversaries, including former special counsel Jack Smith.
Smith, who led the investigations into Trump’s election interference and classified documents case, resigned from the Justice Department earlier this month after submitting a two-volume report on his findings. Both cases were formally withdrawn by his team following Trump’s victory in November, in adherence to department policy regarding the prosecution of sitting presidents.
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