Former Prosecutors Warn Trump Could Dismantle DOJ Corruption Watchdog in Unprecedented Letter

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Addie Andrus
February 19, 2025
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Photos by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images and Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

In a strongly worded letter, more than 900 former federal prosecutors, including former special counsel Jack Smith, have cautioned that President Donald Trump may seek to eliminate a key Justice Department office responsible for combating corruption. “Like you, each of us devoted years of our professional lives to pursuing justice on behalf of the American people,” the letter states.

“As prosecutors, we were rightly prohibited from making criminal charging decisions based on someone’s political association, activities or beliefs, or because of our personal feelings about them. We knew it was impermissible to treat a defendant more leniently just because they were powerful or well-connected, or more harshly because they were not.”

The letter, signed by experienced legal professionals who have served in administrations across both political parties, highlights growing concerns about the integrity of the Justice Department. The former prosecutors describe the principles of impartiality and fairness as “foundational to a fair and just legal system.”

“Against this backdrop, we have watched with alarm as these values have been tested by recent actions of the Department’s leadership,” the letter continues. “Some of you have been ordered to make charging decisions based expressly on considerations other than the facts and the law, including to serve solely political purposes.”

president donald trump — (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A central concern raised in the letter is the potential dismantling of the Public Integrity Section, a division of the Justice Department created in the wake of the Watergate scandal to investigate and prosecute cases of government corruption. The letter warns that Trump’s presidency could lead to its elimination, removing a critical safeguard against misconduct within the government.

Smith and the other signatories acknowledge the immense pressure that federal prosecutors face under the current administration. They note that legal professionals are now grappling with “ethical challenges of a type no public servant should ever be forced to confront.”

“Please know that when you do, generations of former federal prosecutors are watching with pride and admiration and stand ready to support you in this honorable pursuit,” the letter concludes.

The concerns outlined in the letter have already had real-world consequences. More than half a dozen prosecutors have resigned from the Department of Justice, reportedly in response to orders from the Trump administration that they felt compromised the department’s independence and integrity.