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

The administration said the move was part of efforts to curb “partisan actors” from abusing power. Covington & Burling employs several former DOJ officials, including ex-Attorney General Eric Holder.

Smith, appointed in 2022, had investigated Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents. Both cases were dropped after Trump’s election per DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

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https://twitter.com/i/status/1894500643131269263