Top House Democrats say that the way in which Jack Smith's staffers were fired "very likely violated longstanding federal laws."

The DOJ official argued that the firings are in line with the Trump administration’s “mission of ending the weaponization of government.”

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.”

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are demanding to see the volume of special counsel Jack Smith’s report dealing with the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation, asserting it has

None of them had said publicly that they wanted a pardon, and it’s not clear any of them would have accepted one. But some top Democrats, like Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, had endorsed the notion of preemptively pardoning prosecutors, particularly Smith.

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

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

Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira had been charged with conspiring with the president to obstruct an FBI investigation.

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

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.