The U.S. Department of Justice has faced scrutiny after refusing to disclose the names of the staff working under Trump special prosecutor Jack Smith, with Judicial Watch, a conservative group, revealing the DOJ’s attempt to keep this information confidential. Judicial Watch had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for staff rosters related to the Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office, which the DOJ rejected in 2022. Subsequently, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the department.
The DOJ disclosed that it possessed the requested staff rosters but declined to make them public, citing a “dearth of FOIA public interest.” The decision to withhold the information was based on law enforcement and privacy guidelines. In a recent court filing, the DOJ argued that releasing the rosters, even though they were over a year old, could interfere with Jack Smith’s ongoing investigation and potentially lead to threats and harassment.
Judicial Watch contested this argument, stating that the DOJ failed to address how the disclosure of the year-old rosters would reveal anything not already publicly known about the case’s scope, nature, and direction. The group emphasized that at least 23 staff members’ names were already available from public sources, including email addresses and a cell phone number, without discernible impact on the functioning of the Special Counsel’s office.
The court proceedings became intense, leading to a five-minute break ordered by Judge Scott McAfee after Fani Willis, the District Attorney, became hysterical and repeatedly shouted, “It is a lie!” in response to allegations that she and Nathan Wade, the Trump special prosecutor, had cohabited.
Judicial Watch’s latest court filing included a declaration listing 23 individuals allegedly working under Jack Smith, identified through court filings, along with four others found through public media reports. Despite the DOJ’s efforts to keep the staff names confidential, Judicial Watch argued that such secrecy was insufficient to prove the lawfulness of the withholdings.
The high-profile nature of Jack Smith’s investigations, which led to indictments against former President Donald Trump, prompted Judicial Watch to assert that the public has a right to know who is involved in this politically charged anti-Trump investigation. The group highlighted recent scandals, such as the allegations against Fani Willis, adding urgency to the need for transparency.
Various reports suggested that Jack Smith’s team consisted of around 40 lawyers, FBI agents, and support staff, but the DOJ has not publicly confirmed these claims. The special counsel’s team has indicted Trump on multiple occasions, accusing him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election and illegally retaining classified documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty, asserting that the charges are part of a plot to persecute him as he runs for re-election in 2024. The legal proceedings, including an appeal and an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court, further complicate the ongoing investigation.
