Emmanuel OchayiDonald Trump, the President of the United States, has dismissed multiple federal prosecutors who were involved in cases related to his conduct after the 2020 election.
The prosecutors, who had worked under former special counsel Jack Smith, received termination notices via email, according to CBS News.
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James McHenry, the acting Attorney General, confirmed the development, stating, “The president made this decision because he did not believe these officials could be trusted to faithfully implement the presidency’s agenda because of their significant role in prosecuting the president.”
Smith was originally appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to investigate Trump’s handling of classified documents and his actions following the 2020 election. However, after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, both cases were dismissed. Justice Department policy prevents the prosecution of a sitting president.
Trump: ‘They Were Part Of A Witch Hunt’
Speaking at a press briefing, Trump defended his decision, saying, “These prosecutors were part of a politically motivated witch hunt. They were working against me from the beginning. We don’t need people like that in my administration.”
Trump had previously promised to “clean up” the Justice Department, which he accused of being weaponized against him. The removal of prosecutors aligns with his broader strategy to restructure key government agencies.
Smith’s Report And Resignation
Jack Smith had already resigned from his position following the conclusion of his investigations. In his final report, Smith stated, “We collected evidence sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.” However, since Trump had been elected, the case did not move forward.
Trump responded to the report by calling Smith “desperate” and “deranged,” maintaining his stance that the investigations were baseless.
READ ALSO: Trump Signs Executive Order To Remove Transgender Policies In Military
Trump’s Executive Order On ‘Weaponization’
Last week, Trump signed an executive order as reported by Prime Business Africa targeting what he calls the “weaponization of the federal government.” He said, “We are making sure that agencies are not being used for political purposes. What happened to me was unfair, and we won’t let it happen again.”
It remains unclear how many prosecutors from Smith’s team were affected by the decision, but analysts say this move is a clear sign that Trump is reshaping the Justice Department to align with his policies.
Critics React To The Firings
Critics argue that the decision threatens judicial independence. Senator Chris Murphy commented, “This is a dangerous step. Prosecutors should not be fired for doing their jobs. This is an attack on the rule of law.”
Despite the backlash, Trump remains firm on his decision, insisting that his administration must be led by people who are “loyal to justice and fairness, not political games.”
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
