On Wednesday, President Donald Trump dismissed a reporter’s question about allegations that his Justice Department was “targeting” former special counsel Jack Smith.
Smith, who led two federal cases against Trump after being appointed by President Joe Biden’s DOJ, resigned and dropped the cases before Trump’s election victory. When asked about the alleged targeting, Trump cut off the reporter, saying, “I’ve been targeted for years… So don’t talk to me about targeting.”
### Revoking Security Clearances
The exchange came as Trump revoked security clearances for employees of Covington & Burling LLP, a law firm that assisted in Smith’s investigations. The administration also ordered a review of the firm’s government contracts, citing concerns over partisan influence.
Among those affected is Peter Koski, former DOJ official, and Lanny Breuer, who recruited Smith in 2010. The White House confirmed the firm provided Smith with $140,000 in free legal services before his resignation.
### Broader Implications