Jack Smith warns DOJ “can’t do its job” as prosecutors face judges’ distrust, urges protection of election integrity

Former special counsel Jack Smith said in a recent interview that the Justice Department under President Donald Trump is facing an “attack on the rule of law,” warning that prosecutors may be unable to function effectively if judges come to distrust them. Smith, who previously led federal investigations and prosecutions during the Biden administration, said he is “very concerned” about whether future election-related matters will be handled with the level of integrity he believes the country needs.

Smith’s comments, reported by The Hill, focused on what he described as a breakdown in the practical ability of federal prosecutors to do their jobs. He argued that, regardless of political views, prosecutors have become less effective and suggested that judicial skepticism about prosecutors could translate into diminished enforcement of federal law.

In the same report, Smith accused the Trump administration of “weaponizing the Justice Department” and said he is “angered” by public servants being “demonized for doing their jobs.” Smith’s account also included criticism of how prosecutors and related staff were treated at the start of the new term, characterizing the environment as one that discourages officials from pursuing cases that are not aligned with the administration’s preferred outcomes.

The Hill reported that, “a week into Trump’s second term,” the Justice Department fired prosecutors and other colleagues of Smith’s who had worked on cases involving Trump. Apex cannot confirm the personnel actions from Department of Justice records in the material available for this draft, so the description of the dismissals is presented as reported by The Hill rather than as an established fact from DOJ.

Smith also linked his concerns to election integrity, saying he fears the country could face a future in which election disputes do not receive credible enforcement. He described a possible risk that he, as a former special counsel and public figure associated with prosecutions, could be targeted by federal law enforcement in retaliation for his prior work.

Beyond Smith’s statements, the claims he raised overlap with a broader debate about the independence of prosecutorial decision-making and the role of courts in evaluating charging decisions. Legal experts quoted in separate reporting have similarly warned that perceptions of politically motivated prosecution can deepen polarization and strain public confidence, The Hill’s report said, though those broader claims are not themselves confirmed in the present evidentiary set.

The next concrete steps, if any, would depend on whether the Justice Department issues clarifications or responds through official channels regarding any personnel changes or enforcement priorities. In the absence of a Department of Justice release or court filing addressing the specific firing claims described by The Hill, those points remain contested as of publication of this draft.