A dramatic shift looms over the Department of Justice as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to reshape the institution that prosecuted him.
According to the Washington Examiner, Trump intends to dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith's entire team and redirect the Justice Department's resources toward investigating the 2020 election upon taking office in January.
The sweeping changes would affect career attorneys who typically enjoy protection from political retaliation. Smith had previously announced his intention to resign and conclude his federal cases against Trump before the presidential inauguration. These developments mark a significant turning point in the relationship between the incoming administration and the Justice Department.
The special counsel's office consists of dozens of attorneys, FBI agents, and support staff drawn from various Justice Department divisions. Many team members did not voluntarily choose their assignments but were detailed to Smith's investigation from their regular positions within the department or U.S. attorneys' offices nationwide.
Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated:
President Trump campaigned on firing rogue bureaucrats who have engaged in the illegal weaponization of our American justice system, and the American people can expect he will deliver on that promise.
House Republicans have already taken steps to preserve all communications from Smith's team members, suggesting potential congressional investigations ahead. This move indicates a broader strategy to scrutinize the special counsel's investigation after Trump takes office.
The incoming administration's plans extend beyond personnel changes. Trump has signaled his intention to use the Justice Department to investigate claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election despite numerous investigations finding no evidence to support such allegations.
In September, Trump posted a message on Truth Social suggesting unprecedented legal consequences for those involved in election matters. His statement indicated potential prosecution of lawyers, political operatives, donors, and election officials who he believes acted improperly.
The classified documents case against Trump was dismissed, while other prosecutions faced numerous delays due to various appeals. A significant immunity challenge in the federal election subversion case reached the Supreme Court, further complicating the legal proceedings.
Traditionally, staff attorneys assigned to special counsel investigations return to their regular positions after completing their temporary assignments. Some members of Smith's team have already followed this pattern, resuming their previous roles within the Justice Department.
The planned overhaul would break with this precedent, potentially affecting mid- and upper-level career staffers who served on detail in the special counsel's office. These professionals typically work in various divisions within the main Justice Department in Washington, D.C., or in U.S. attorneys' offices across the country.
Trump's determination to "clean out the bad guys" who investigated him represents a significant departure from traditional transitions between administrations. The scope of the proposed changes could fundamentally alter the department's structure and operations.
President-elect Trump's intended Justice Department transformation aims to reshape the federal law enforcement apparatus that brought multiple indictments against him during his post-presidency. His plans include dismissing Special Counsel Jack Smith's entire investigative team and redirecting departmental resources toward examining the 2020 election outcome. The sweeping changes will affect numerous career Justice Department professionals, from attorneys to FBI agents, who participated in the Trump investigations.
