Justice Department lawyers who investigated Trump fired
According to a department official speaking to CBS News, the lawyers were removed after Acting Attorney General James McHenry determined that their involvement in prosecuting the president made them unfit.
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The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed over a dozen Justice Department attorneys who had worked on two criminal cases involving him.
According to a department official speaking to CBS News, the lawyers were removed after Acting Attorney General James McHenry determined that their involvement in prosecuting the president made them unfit to "faithfully carry out the administration's agenda."
These attorneys had been part of former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative team, which looked into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
The terminations, which took effect immediately on Monday, followed Trump’s long-standing pledge to remove those involved in these investigations. While Mr. Smith had been appointed in 2022 to oversee the cases, he resigned before Trump's inauguration after the president declared he would dismiss him "within two seconds" of taking office.
Both cases had led to criminal charges against Trump, who denied all allegations. However, after his victory in the November election, the cases were dropped, as Justice Department policies prevent the prosecution of a sitting president.
It remains unclear which members of Smith’s team were directly affected by the dismissals. Many of those working on the cases were seasoned prosecutors with backgrounds in corruption and national security cases, having served under various administrations.
Reports indicate the dismissed attorneys received official notification on Monday, stating that their involvement in prosecuting the president made them unsuitable to continue working at the department.
Critics have condemned the move. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance told NBC News, "Firing prosecutors based on cases they were assigned is unacceptable. It undermines the rule of law and democracy itself."
The dismissals are part of a broader restructuring within the Justice Department, affecting top officials specializing in national security and public corruption. Additionally, the chief of the department’s Public Integrity Section reportedly resigned on Monday.
Throughout his campaign, Trump and his allies have accused the Justice Department of unfairly targeting him and other Republicans for political reasons. His nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has echoed these sentiments, claiming the department had been "weaponized for years."