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A lack of trust that the individuals would implement the president’s policy was cited as the reason for the dismissals
The US Department of Justice has terminated more than a dozen officials who were involved in criminal investigations against President Donald Trump. The firings, effective Monday, were ordered by Acting Attorney General James McHenry, who cited a lack of trust in these individuals’ ability to implement the president’s agenda.
Among those dismissed were prosecutors who worked under Special Counsel Jack Smith, who previously led investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases led to criminal charges against Trump, who pleaded not guilty, but the cases were closed after his November election victory due to Justice Department regulations barring the prosecution of a sitting president.
Smith was appointed in 2022 to oversee the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump. While Trump had vowed during his campaign to fire Smith “within two seconds” of taking office, Smith resigned before the president’s inauguration. The dismissals follow Trump’s longstanding criticism of the Justice Department, which he has accused of being “weaponized” against him and his allies.
Critics have denounced the firings as undermining the independence of the Justice Department. Former US Attorney Joyce Vance called the move “anti-rule of law” and a threat to democracy.
Supporters of the dismissals argue that the administration is entitled to appoint officials who align with its policy goals. Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has echoed his claims of politically motivated investigations, describing the Justice Department as having been “weaponized for years.”
Many of the dismissed prosecutors were career officials with expertise in corruption and national security. A department official told CBS News that the individuals were deemed unsuitable for their roles due to their involvement in prosecuting Trump.
This development is part of a broader reshuffling within the Justice Department. Dozens of senior officials have been reassigned, with some joining a new task force focused on enforcing immigration laws against sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, acting US Attorney Edward Martin announced an internal review of the previous administration’s charges against hundreds of Trump supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol protests.
