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\u2019s handling of classified documents, according to a Saturday report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dismissals are part of a broad purge intended to remove DOJ attorneys and support staff involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith\u2019s prosecutions of Trump, both over the January 6 Capitol riot and his possession of classified documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe new dismissals bring the total Smith-related firings to about 35,\u201d Axios reported, adding: \u201cAbout 15 more could face termination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s team had already been dismissed, Axios reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bondi\u2019s \u201cWeaponization Working Group,\u201d created soon after she took office to identify entrenched political opponents of Trump, flagged the affected staffers during its internal review. A<\/p>\n\n\n\n
xios reports that it remains uncertain how many of the additional 15\u201317 employees under review will ultimately be dismissed as part of this \u201cweaponization\u201d investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n