WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said Monday that it had fired more than a dozen employees who worked on Jack Smith’s criminal prosecutions of President Trump, moving rapidly to pursue retribution against lawyers involved in the investigations and signaling an early willingness to take action favorable to the president’s personal interests.

Mr. Trump has declared on Truth Social that Mr. Smith “should be prosecuted for election interference & prosecutorial misconduct.” The president has also called him a “career criminal.” He also reposted the radio host Mark Levin’s view that “Jack Smith must go to prison.”

As Republicans' take on the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection evolved from disapproving to defensive, Kash Patel played a role in reframing their position.

In light of their actions, the Acting Attorney General does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda.”

The Justice Department has terminated over a dozen employees linked to President Trump's prosecutions, signalling a shift in departmental loyalty.

Plus: Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and his role in Jan. 6 misinformation | Trump pledges sweeping tariffs on steel, semiconductors

The firing of career Justice Department lawyers involved in prosecuting Donald Trump was designed to intimidate DOJ workers and deter investigations of Trump's second term, former officials say.

The firings are the latest fallout from investigations into Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

The Justice Department employees had been involved in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation that led to Trump's classified documents and Jan. 6 cases.

The Trump Justice Department says it has fired more than a dozen employees who worked on criminal investigations into President Donald Trump.

I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully.’