In a bold move, the Trump administration has fired over a dozen Justice Department lawyers involved in investigations against the president. This sweeping action took place after Acting Attorney General James McHenry concluded that these lawyers were unfit to serve, given their significant roles in prosecuting Trump.
The investigations and the lawyers involved
The lawyers were part of special counsel Jack Smith’s team. They worked on two high-profile criminal cases: one concerning Trump’s mishandling of classified documents and the other involving his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Immediate firings and Trump’s reaction
The firings, announced on Monday, took effect immediately. Sources claim the Justice Department officials said these lawyers’ involvement in the president’s cases made them untrustworthy to carry out Trump’s agenda.
Trump had always been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Smith’s work. In fact, during the 2020 campaign, Trump vowed to fire Smith “within two seconds” if he were elected. However, Smith resigned before Trump’s inauguration in 2021.
Trump pleads not guilty to criminal charges
Despite the president’s objections, both criminal cases resulted in charges against him. Trump, however, has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. After his 2020 election defeat, these cases were ultimately closed. Prosecutors cited Justice Department regulations which prevent the prosecution of a sitting president.
The fired lawyers: career prosecutors and national security experts
While the names of the fired lawyers remain unclear, many were career prosecutors with expertise in national security and corruption. They had worked under several administrations and were appointed to these high-stakes cases. According to reports, the fired lawyers received letters saying their role in the Trump investigations made them unsuitable to continue in their positions.
The mass firings are raising eyebrows. “Firing prosecutors because of cases they worked on is unacceptable,” said Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney. “It’s anti-rule of law. It’s anti-democracy.”
A broader shake-up at the Justice Department
This move follows a broader shake-up at the Justice Department, with high-ranking officials being reassigned or resigning. One such resignation was that of the chief of the Public Integrity Section, who stepped down on Monday.
Trump has long accused the Justice Department of waging politically motivated attacks against him and his associates. He calls the prosecutions part of a political witch hunt, claiming that the department is “weaponized” against him.
Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, has echoed these claims, saying that the department had been “weaponized” for years against Republicans. Bondi’s criticism highlights Trump’s ongoing frustration with the Justice Department’s investigations.
Jack Smith defends his work
Jack Smith has strongly defended his work, however. In a letter included with the final report on Trump’s post-election actions, Smith rejected claims of political bias. “The accusation that my decisions were influenced by the Biden administration or any political figure is laughable,” he stated.
Internal review of Capitol riot cases
Meanwhile, on the same day, a new review was launched into the handling of the Capitol riot cases. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Martin, a Trump appointee, announced an internal review of the decision-making behind the obstruction charges filed against over 200 Capitol riot defendants.
This investigation aims to scrutinize the legal basis for bringing these charges, raising even more questions about the Justice Department’s actions under the previous administration.
As these developments unfold, Trump’s relationship with the Justice Department grows increasingly tense. His push to reshape the department is gaining momentum as part of his re-election campaign. Whether this will impact the ongoing investigations remains to be seen.
