Two agencies involved in the criminal investigation that accused the president-elect of mishandling sensitive materials are experiencing critical role turnover as Donald Trump prepares to take office this month.
According to a spokeswoman on Monday, Jay Bratt, a lead prosecutor in the since-dismissed papers case, departed the Justice Department last week.
After 34 years with the agency, Bratt, a senior national security official assigned to special counsel Jack Smith’s office, announced his retirement on Friday.
Smith and his team had previously announced their intention to step down prior to Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, according to an NBC News story.
Trump, meantime, said on Monday that he plans to take Colleen Shogan’s position as director of the National Archives.
Trump informed radio presenter Hugh Hewitt that a new archivist will be joining the team.
Shogan “has had a strong working relationship” with Trump and his team, the Archives said in a statement Monday night in response to a request for comment.
“We look forward to continuing that relationship with the new administration,” stated the statement.
The federal indictment claims that after Trump failed to return all of the records the National Archives had asked for, the archives warned the Justice Department in 2022 that Trump might have mishandled secret documents. Trump eventually provided some of the required documents, but he refused to provide others.
The agency’s first female leader, Shogan, wasn’t in the top position at the time.
Trump became the first former president to be charged with federal offenses after the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago residence. He denied any misconduct and entered a not guilty plea.
After leaving office, presidents are obligated to transfer their records to the National Archives.
In July, a federal judge selected by Trump dismissed the complaint, citing Smith’s appointment as unconstitutional. Smith filed an appeal, but because of the Department’s long-standing rule that a sitting president cannot be charged, he was compelled to end the case once Trump was elected to a second term.
Trump and his supporters have stated time and time again that they will look into alleged opponents and detractors. Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has fueled his ascent within Trump’s inner circle with allegations of a deep state conspiracy and has vowed to target judges, attorneys, and reporters who have looked into Trump.
The Senate must confirm the replacement after the president has the power to fire the head of the National Archives.
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