DOJ Dismisses Trump Document Investigators and January 6 Prosecutors

/ CBS News

A recent wave of dismissals at the Department of Justice has affected more than 20 individuals involved in key investigations related to President Trump and his associates. Sources disclosed to CBS News the significant staff changes that have taken place.

According to a knowledgeable source, these dismissals include over 20 people connected to investigations into Trump's classified documents and his efforts to reverse the 2020 election outcomes led by Jack Smith.

At least 35 individuals employed by Smith on these two major investigations have been terminated, with further dismissals anticipated reaching up to 15 additional personnel, the source continued.

Among those dismissed, as reported to CBS News, were not only paralegals from Smith's team but also finance and support staff, as well as two more prosecutors based in North Carolina and Florida. Additionally, three senior prosecutors involved in the January 6 cases faced termination back in June.

The Justice Department's internal team, termed the 'weaponization working group,' was tasked with reviewing such matters. This initiative, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi upon assuming office, prioritized evaluating the policies of law enforcement set by the Biden administration.

This group is not only scrutinizing Trump's federal cases managed by Smith but also examining the prosecutions of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol unrest. Concurrently, they're assessing non-federal cases involving Trump in New York, specifically those pursued by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and the New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Bondi's directive for the working group emphasized analyzing 'unethical prosecution practices' versus 'proper compliance by federal employees.' This included reviewing January 6 case information and personnel decisions.

CBS News has sought comments from the DOJ regarding these recent terminations.

Among the terminated staff was a top public affairs expert at the FBI, affected on Monday through a formal notice from the attorney general. She contributed significantly to the public communications regarding the extensive prosecutions following the January 6 incidents.

In a conversation with CBS News, she expressed that ongoing punitive measures are reshaping norms within the agency.

She stated, 'The boundaries we once respected between the White House and the Justice Department have eroded significantly.'

This pattern of dismissals began post-Trump's second term commencement, coinciding with Ed Martin, a former defense attorney involved in January 6 cases, assuming a leading prosecutor role in Washington, D.C.

Trump's circle has continued to downplay the ramifications of the Capitol events, arguing that convicted participants are treated as 'political detainees.'