President Trump has dismissed more than a dozen Justice Department officials involved in investigations about his actions. This includes those led by special counsel Jack Smith. The firings are part of Trump’s effort to realign the department with his administration’s goals, especially on immigration. A new investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack has also been launched.
Officials Fired Over Roles in Trump Investigations
The Trump administration has dismissed over a dozen Justice Department officials tied to investigations involving Donald Trump. Acting Attorney General James McHenry confirmed these actions on Monday, attributing them to concerns about the officials’ ability to support the administration’s agenda.
McHenry stated that the dismissed officials had played significant roles in cases prosecuted under special counsel Jack Smith. Trump, during his 2024 campaign, had publicly criticized Smith and pledged to remove him.
Smith led two high-profile cases against Trump: one alleging attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and another accusing him of mishandling classified documents. Both cases were dropped after Trump’s 2024 election win. Smith resigned earlier this month, submitting a report before leaving that argued there was enough evidence to convict Trump in the election-related case.
Department Priorities Realigned
In addition to the firings, several Justice Department staff members were reassigned to align the department with the administration’s goals. Immigration policy has become a central focus, reflecting a shift toward Trump’s broader objectives.
The reorganization signals the administration’s intent to reshape the department’s leadership and operations to better serve its policy priorities.
Investigation Reopened Into Jan. 6 Cases
Acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Ed Martin, has launched a new investigation into the handling of charges related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Martin called the felony obstruction charges a “failure” and requested case files and documents as part of what he termed a “special project.”
This review follows a Supreme Court decision requiring prosecutors to prove defendants intended to disrupt specific items during the certification of the 2020 election. These proceedings were critical in confirming Joe Biden’s victory.
More than 355 defendants faced obstruction charges, though former Attorney General Merrick Garland noted that most also faced additional offenses. On his first day back in office, Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 individuals charged in connection with January 6.
These sweeping actions highlight the administration’s efforts to reshape the Justice Department and set new priorities under President Trump’s leadership.