The Justice Department is dismissing more than a dozen key officials from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, who were involved in prosecuting President Donald Trump. Acting Attorney General James McHenry cited concerns that these officials could not be trusted in “faithfully implementing the president’s agenda,” according to information obtained by Fox News Digital. McHenry has sent termination letters to each of the affected officials, a Justice Department representative confirmed exclusively to Fox News Digital.
“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 DOJ official told Fox News Digital. “In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda.” The action “is consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government,” the official told Fox News.
The decision follows the Justice Department’s reassignment of over twelve officials during the Trump administration’s first week to a Sanctuary City task force and other initiatives. It should also be noted that, according to Fox News, prosecutors who teamed with Smith did so on a voluntary basis and were not formally assigned to do so. The network explained that generally speaking, when prosecutors volunteer to work for a special counsel, they have it in for the person or persons they are going after.
In November 2022, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith, a seasoned Justice Department official, as special counsel. Smith, who previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney and headed the DOJ’s public integrity section, led the investigation into Trump’s retention of classified documents after his presidency and examined whether the former president obstructed the federal government’s probe into the matter.
Jack Smith was also assigned to oversee the investigation into whether President Donald Trump or other officials and entities interfered with the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election, including the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021. In a decision that shocked but did not surprise most Republicans, Smith wound up indicting Trump in both cases, but Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In July 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida dismissed the classified records case, ruling that Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. Additionally, Smith had indicted President Trump in a 2020 election-related case in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. However, after Trump was elected president, Smith sought to dismiss that case as well, and Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the request. Both cases have been dismissed.
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