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In a move drawing both praise and criticism, the Justice Department (DOJ) on Wednesday dropped charges in two high-profile cases that former President Donald Trump had decried as politically motivated. The cases involved Trump’s former co-defendants in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.).
The decision marks a significant shift in legal proceedings under the Trump administration, reinforcing concerns about the DOJ’s independence and potential political influence.
Charges Dropped Against Fortenberry
In a brief filing to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, prosecutors moved to dismiss the case against Jeff Fortenberry, who had faced charges for lying to federal investigators about illegal contributions to his 2016 campaign.
Fortenberry, who resigned from Congress in 2022 following an initial conviction, saw that ruling overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined the trial should have been held in Nebraska or Washington, D.C. The DOJ subsequently re-indicted him, and he was scheduled for a second trial in July.
Trump celebrated the decision, calling the case part of a broader “witch hunt” against conservatives.
“Jeff and his family were forced to suffer greatly due to the illegal weaponization of our justice system by the Radical Left Democrats,” Trump wrote on social media.
The DOJ declined to comment beyond the court filings.
Mar-a-Lago Case Charges Also Dismissed
The DOJ also dropped charges against Trump aides Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, both of whom were indicted in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probe into Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Nauta, a longtime Trump aide, was accused of helping move boxes containing classified materials to evade a federal subpoena. De Oliveira, the Mar-a-Lago property manager, allegedly conspired to delete security footage related to the case.
Their charges were initially dismissed last year when Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Jack Smith had been unconstitutionally appointed as special counsel. Smith appealed the ruling but ultimately dropped the case against Trump following his return to office, citing DOJ policy that prevents prosecuting a sitting president.
Democrats Call for Release of Special Counsel Report
The dismissals have fueled Democratic demands for the release of Smith’s investigative report, particularly sections related to FBI nominee Kash Patel, who was a key witness in the probe.
“In order to discharge their constitutional duty, the Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee must be fully and accurately informed about Mr. Patel’s record,” Senate Democrats wrote in a letter Wednesday.
With Patel’s confirmation hearing scheduled for Thursday, the report’s findings could become a contentious issue in the Senate.
Political Ramifications of the DOJ’s Decisions
The DOJ’s actions signal a major shift in federal prosecutions under Trump’s leadership, reinforcing concerns from both sides of the political spectrum.
While Republicans view the dismissals as correcting politically motivated prosecutions, Democrats argue they represent a troubling precedent of selective justice.
With ongoing legal battles and federal investigations into Trump’s presidency, the DOJ’s role will likely remain at the center of political debate in the coming months.
