Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed more than 20 Justice Department employees who were working on cases related to the January 6 Capitol riot and to former President Trump’s handling of classified documents, according to a Saturday report.
The dismissals are part of a broad purge intended to remove DOJ attorneys and support staff involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecutions of Trump, both over the January 6 Capitol riot and his possession of classified documents.
“The new dismissals bring the total Smith-related firings to about 35,” Axios reported, adding: “About 15 more could face termination.”
Reuters initially reported that nine staffers were dismissed Friday night, but Axios sources put the number at 20, and as many as 37 people could ultimately be let go from offices in Washington, Virginia, Florida, and elsewhere.
The 20 ousted on Friday included attorneys, support staff, and U.S. marshals, some of whom had volunteered to work on investigations or prosecutions related to Trump. Before Bondi assumed office, 14 other officials connected to Smith’s team had already been dismissed, Axios reported.
