The Justice Department has fired several key officials from the team investigating Donald Trump, citing trust issues. These firings, effective immediately, targeted individuals who played significant roles in prosecuting Trump. A letter from former acting attorney general McHenry highlighted Trump’s claims of political interference in law enforcement and questioned the need for such probes. The departures come as part of a broader reshaping of the department under the Trump administration, with veteran officials being transferred or removed to less-influential positions. This includes Bradley Weinsheimer, the most senior career official, and Corey Amundson, chief of the public integrity section. The shake-up is aimed at reducing political interference in investigations but has sparked concern among legal experts. They noted that while Trump’s Justice Department may appoint individuals based on their political stance, the firings raise questions about potential retaliation or bias. Some legal professionals emphasized the importance of reviewing these moves carefully. The firings follow a November 2022 directive from Attorney General Merrick Garland to establish a special counsel team to investigate Trump, which included building a team of at least 40 lawyers. The departures come as Smith’s investigation concluded with two indictments but ultimately dropped the case against Trump after the election due to federal guidelines prohibiting prosecution of sitting presidents.
The shake-up also affected other departments, including national security and classified documents cases. A separate volume from Smith’s report detailing the findings of a classified documents case has not been released due to ongoing litigation and potential release blocked by court order. The department is now focused on how to handle this report ahead of an indefinite hold imposed by a court in D.C. Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department continues to rebuild under acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove and other top personal defense attorneys.
Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this report.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/01/27/doj-firings-trump-jack-smith-officials