WASHINGTON, D.C. – A handful of Department of Justice lawyers who worked on the criminal cases against President Donald Trump, have been fired. A DOJ official said the acting Attorney General does not trust those people in implementing the President’s agenda. Sources at the Justice Department said they’re concerned they’ll be next on the chopping block.
We’re told several people who were fired were involved in the classified documents case and election interference cases against President Trump. On the campaign trail, Trump has made it known he wanted to end what he called the “weaponization” of the federal government.
“This is the retribution being executed,” said Casey Burgat, Assistant Professor and Director of Legislative Affairs at George Washington University. “He comes in and uses the powers of the office and ultimately DOJ, even though they’re semi-independent. They at some level work for the pleasure of the President of the United States or at least his handpicked Attorney General. So, this is him prioritizing party loyalty or Trump loyalty over their jobs.”
The White House said the President is within his executive authority to fire these people.
“He is the executive of the executive branch therefore he has the power to fire anyone within the executive branch that he wishes to,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary. She also cited a Supreme Court case she claims backs up the President’s authority.
A person within the DOJ, who wants to remain anonymous, shares they’re worried about job security and the uncertainty surrounding the priorities and policies of the Department under the new administration.
“Will this have a chilling effect, yeah it will,” said Burgat. “This impacts morale, this impats what cases people think will endanger their political careers within a department or agency. They’re fearful of not doing what the President says for fear of retaliation even if it’s a decade from now and so yeah, these decisions, they’re not costless.”
