Naturally, a president wouldn't want people working under him who investigated him and his allies, so it's no surprise that President Donald Trump continues to purge DOJ staff members who did so under the previous administration.
More than 20 people who worked on then-Special Counsel Jack Smith's two cases against Trump were the latest to be canned this week, and a source in the administration said that 15 more people could be fired in the near future.
With around 15 previous firings, the total could reach 50 until it's all said and done.
Smith is long gone, and anyone who worked under him is soon to follow.
Sources said that among those fired in this wave were paralegals, finance and support staff, as well as the final two prosecutors in North Carolina and Florida.
The DOJ's "weaponization working group" established by Attorney General Pam Bondi right after she was confirmed to the positon identified the employees who were fired.
The working group was tasked with distinguishing "improper investigative tactics and unethical prosecutions" from "good faith actions by federal employees simply following orders."
One of the employees fired, public affairs specialist Patty Hartman, complained about the so-called retribution behind the firings to CBS in an interview.
"The rules don't exist anymore," Hartman said. "There used to be a line, used to be a very distinct separation between the White House and the Department of Justice, because one should not interfere with the work of the other. That line is very definitely gone."
Hartman may be a little off on her timeline for when the "retribution" started in Washington.
Trump was most definitely punished for daring to win office as a political outsider, threatening the status quo and bringing about change that a lot of people--even some Republicans--did not want.
The line she's talking about was pretty much destroyed when the DOJ under former President Joe Biden decided to use its power to prosecute a presidential candidate and nominee on specious charges that didn't end up holding water.
Why would Trump let people stay in his administration who think what was done to him is justice?
His actions make perfect sense and no one should have expected anything different.
