House Democrats launch review of firing of former special counsel Jack Smith's team

House Democratic leaders are asking the Justice Department for an explanation for the "firing and involuntary reassignment" of career Justice Department employees who worked for former special counsel Jack Smith.

In a letter from the highest-ranking Democratic members of the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Gerald Connolly claim that the way in which the staffers were fired was carried out "without regard to their demonstrated competencies" and "very likely violated longstanding federal laws."

President Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, has not yet been confirmed; however, Acting Attorney General James McHenry fired about a dozen Justice Department employees who worked for Smith on the investigation and prosecution of President Trump on Monday.