U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday dismissed at least nine more Justice Department employees who were part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
Among those let go were two federal prosecutors recently assigned to U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Florida and North Carolina, three sources told Reuters. The remaining seven were support staff on Smith’s team, confirmed by two additional sources.
This latest wave of terminations brings the total number of staff removed from Smith’s former team to at least 26 since Trump returned to office on January 20. Insiders describe the firings as part of a broad purge targeting Justice Department personnel who worked on Trump-related cases or prosecutions involving his political allies.
Fourteen attorneys on Smith’s original team were among the first to be dismissed on January 27, just one week into Trump’s second term.
The shake-up has extended beyond the special counsel’s team. In June, two prosecutors and a supervisor — one of whom had led cases against members of the far-right Proud Boys — were dismissed. Earlier in July, a longtime DOJ spokesperson was also terminated. Probationary prosecutors involved in January 6 cases were quietly removed back in January.
Neither the Trump administration nor Bondi has publicly explained the reasoning behind the dismissals. However, legal analysts warn the actions represent a sharp departure from established norms and raise serious questions about judicial independence and potential political interference in the Department of Justice.
“This is more than just a change in leadership — it’s a purge,” said a former DOJ official who asked not to be named. “The message being sent is chilling.”
As critics call for congressional oversight, concerns are mounting over how the Justice Department will operate under the new administration, particularly in cases that involve Trump or his allies.
