The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed over a dozen Justice Department lawyers involved in criminal investigations against him. The firings, effective immediately, have drawn sharp criticism, with former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance calling them an attack on the rule of law and democracy.
DOJ Shake-Up Amid Political Allegations
The decision to remove these lawyers followed an assessment by Acting Attorney General James McHenry, who determined they could not be trusted to “faithfully implement the president’s agenda.” The dismissed prosecutors were part of former special counsel Jack Smith’s team, which investigated Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
A Justice Department official told CBS News that the firings were made after careful consideration. However, critics argue that the move is politically motivated and an attempt to purge officials involved in cases against Trump.
Jack Smith’s Role and Resignation
Jack Smith, appointed in 2022 to oversee Trump’s investigations, had resigned before Trump could take office. Despite Trump’s repeated claims that Smith’s work was politically motivated, the special counsel maintained that his prosecution decisions were independent and not influenced by the Biden administration.
Wider DOJ Reshuffling and Reactions
The dismissals come amid a broader shake-up within the Justice Department, including the resignation of the chief of the public integrity section, a key official overseeing corruption and national security cases.
Trump’s team has long accused the Justice Department of being “weaponized” against him. His nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, echoed this sentiment, claiming federal prosecutions against Trump were politically driven.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.’s top federal prosecutor, Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Martin, announced an internal review into the decisions behind charging over 200 Capitol riot defendants with obstruction.
The identities of the dismissed lawyers have not been disclosed, but many were career attorneys with extensive experience across multiple administrations. Critics argue that these firings signal a dangerous shift in how justice is administered in the United States.
