The Trump administration has dismissed another group of nearly 10 employees from the Justice Department, many of whom previously worked in the special counsel’s office that twice indicted President Trump. Some of those fired held relatively minor roles, according to sources familiar with the situation.
These dismissals, which occurred on Friday, reflect the administration's ongoing efforts to remove individuals connected to the investigations and prosecutions of Mr. Trump during his time out of office. This includes not only those with direct involvement but also individuals in secondary roles within the office of special counsel Jack Smith.
The firings involved at least two federal prosecutors and included a broader assertion of presidential authority, disregarding traditional civil service protections, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Among those dismissed, at least seven served as support staff to Mr. Smith’s office, managing tasks such as overseeing financial records, providing paralegal services, and ensuring information security.
Since the beginning of Mr. Trump’s second term, his aides have sought to terminate or demote individuals associated with investigations against him, including those related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by his supporters.
The pattern of dismissals has been sporadic, with new firings occurring at various intervals, often accompanied by minimal explanation, typically referencing Article II of the Constitution, which outlines presidential powers.
Further dismissals are anticipated, although Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, is reportedly advocating for a halt to additional firings, according to an anonymous source familiar with the internal discussions.
Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent dismissal letters to three prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington who had overseen the investigation into the January 6 events, the largest criminal inquiry in the Justice Department's history. Additionally, Patricia Hartman, a longtime spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office, was also recently terminated.
These actions followed the demotion of several prosecutors who had worked on significant January 6-related cases against far-right extremist groups, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to lower-level criminal cases.
In January, over a dozen junior prosecutors involved in January 6 cases were outright dismissed. Despite these firings, the Trump administration has continued to hire individuals who have publicly supported the rioters charged in connection with the Capitol attack.
Ed Martin, a notable advocate for January 6 defendants, was initially nominated by Mr. Trump to lead the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington. After facing challenges in Senate confirmation due to his ties to the rioters, Mr. Martin was appointed as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney and designated to lead the so-called Weaponization Working Group, a task force aimed at addressing perceived political retribution against Mr. Trump’s adversaries.
Recently, Mr. Martin appointed a former F.B.I. agent, charged with urging the Capitol mob to kill police officers on January 6, as an advisor on the weaponization task force. Mr. Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol events.