The US Justice Department announced on Monday that it had fired over a dozen employees who were involved in criminal investigations of President Donald Trump.
This move, described as retribution by critics, was seen as a clear signal of the administration’s willingness to act in favour of Trump’s personal interests.
“Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of several DOJ officials who played a key role in prosecuting President Trump,” a Justice Department official said in a statement.
“In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda. This step aligns with the mission of ending the weaponisation of government”, reported Associated Press (AP).
The firings, which took immediate effect, targeted career prosecutors, including those who worked with former special counsel Jack Smith on high-profile cases against Trump.
Traditionally, rank-and-file prosecutors remain in the department regardless of administration changes, and such dismissals are rare.
The decision follows Trump’s broader efforts to overhaul the Justice Department. Since taking office last week, Trump has replaced key officials with close allies, including Kash Patel as FBI director.
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His pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has indicated she will not rule out investigations into Trump’s political opponents.
On his first day in office, Trump also issued mass pardons for over 1,500 supporters charged in the 6 January Capitol riots, including those convicted of violent attacks on police and far-right leaders involved in failed efforts to keep him in power.
The firings are the latest fallout from investigations into Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Special counsel Jack Smith and other senior prosecutors had withdrawn these cases after Trump’s election win, citing Justice Department policy.
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AP noted that the firings, first reported by Fox News, signal an unprecedented shake-up within the department, raising questions about civil service protections for federal employees.
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