Politics
JUST IN: Trump’s DOJ Fires Jack Smith’s Former Team
On Monday, the Department of Justice revealed that it had removed several career lawyers who had been part of the high-profile prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. The DOJ employees were members of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, which had been investigating dismissed charges related to Trump’s management of classified documents and purported attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Smith resigned earlier this month, just before Trump’s inauguration. The reelection of Trump effectively halted the federal criminal cases against him, adhering to the Justice Department’s longstanding policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
A Justice Department official informed NBC News, “Today, Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of a number of DOJ officials who played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump. 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 Special Counsel’s team, once hailed by Trump’s opponents as a critical force for accountability, had spearheaded cases that led to heated debates over the treatment of classified materials and Trump’s actions following his 2020 election defeat.
The dismissed cases, particularly the charges related to Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information, faced intense scrutiny from both the legal community and the public. Trump’s legal team had repeatedly accused Smith and his team of overreach, a claim echoed by Trump supporters who viewed the indictments as politically motivated.
The exact number of people from the special counsel’s team who were terminated on Monday remains unclear.
Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed in November, 2022, by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee investigations into then former President Trump’s actions related to the January 6 Capitol breach and the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. In June 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Trump on 37 counts tied to the alleged mishandling of classified documents, marking the first time in history a former U.S. president faced federal criminal charges.
A second indictment followed August 2023, with Trump charged on four counts related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the January 6 events. However, the momentum shifted in July 2024, when Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case, ruling that Smith’s appointment violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.
After Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Smith moved to drop all charges in November in accordance with the Department of Justice’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Despite this, the Department of Justice released a report on January 14 this year, claiming Trump likely would have been convicted of election interference if not for his election win. The dismissals, while unusual, are seen by the administration as necessary to prevent the DOJ from being used as a tool for political opposition.
President Trump, during his campaign and after his election, repeatedly pledged to end the “weaponization” of federal agencies against political opponents.
An official confirmed to ABC News that Bradley Weinsheimer, the Justice Department’s top career official, was recently reassigned from his role. Weinsheimer, a veteran public servant, drew attention last year during interactions with Joe Biden’s legal team as they tried to block Special Counsel Robert Hur from including details in his final report about Biden’s diminished capacities.
