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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday dismissed about 20 Justice Department employees who were involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The terminated staff included attorneys, support personnel, and U.S. Marshals. Among them were at least two prosecutors recently working in U.S. Attorneys’ offices in Florida and North Carolina. These terminations follow a broader pattern of dismissals since Trump reassumed office in January 2025, targeting DOJ employees linked to investigations involving Trump or his allies.
The Justice Department cited Trump’s executive authority under the U.S. Constitution as the basis for the removals. On January 27, 14 attorneys who served on Smith’s team were previously fired for their involvement in high-profile Trump cases. Termination letters reportedly stated these individuals could not be trusted to implement the president’s agenda.
With the latest wave of firings, at least 37 people connected to Smith’s team have been removed since January. In addition, the DOJ has also dismissed staff tied to prosecutions of January 6 Capitol riot participants, including three prosecutors—one of whom worked on Proud Boys cases—and a longtime DOJ spokesperson based in Washington, D.C.
Jack Smith had brought two criminal cases against Trump in 2023, related to the mishandling of national security documents and election interference. Both were dropped following Trump’s return to the presidency.
The move has sparked criticism over the politicization of the Justice Department and raised concerns about the erosion of prosecutorial independence in cases involving high-level government figures. Smith's office has not commented on the recent firings.
