{"id":2643822,"date":"2026-08-12T18:28:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jack-smiths-former-deputies-join-anti-trump-legal-advocacy-organization\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:34:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:34:02","slug":"jack-smiths-former-deputies-join-anti-trump-legal-advocacy-organization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jack-smiths-former-deputies-join-anti-trump-legal-advocacy-organization\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack Smith&#8217;s former deputies join anti-Trump legal advocacy organization"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjack-smiths-former-deputies-join-anti-trump-legal-advocacy-organization%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643822&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>JP Cooney and Molly Gaston,former DOJ prosecutors who previously worked under special counsel Jack Smith,have joined Democracy Forward to lead efforts against government corruption and weaponization during the Trump administration.The association, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-democrat-lawyer-marc-elias-undermined-both-sides-confidence-in-u-s-elections\/\" title=\"How Democrat ...yer Marc Elias Undermined Both Sides\u2019 Confidence in U.S. Elections\">filed numerous lawsuits<\/a> against Trump\u2019s administration last year, hired the pair to strengthen its legal team focused on accountability. Cooney and Gaston have a history of representing the U.S. against public corruption and civil rights abuses, and they are challenging thier past dismissals from the DOJ as unlawful. They have already been involved in critically important legal actions, such as halting a major anti-weaponization fund and suing the DOJ and FBI over records related to Kash Patel. Democracy Forward continues to pursue various cases, including those concerning voting rights, election integrity, and government clarity. Cooney and gaston have established their own legal firm in Washington, D.C., following their departure from the DOJ, and they advocate for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-ag-sues-pfizer-over-covid-vaccine-conspiracy-to-censor-public-discourse\/\" title=\"Texas AG files ...suit against Pfizer for COVID vaccine, alleged censorship conspiracy\">holding powerful entities accountable<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JP Cooney and Molly Gaston, who previously worked for former special counsel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"869\">Jack Smith<\/a> at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a>, are bringing their legal expertise against President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> to Democracy Forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legal advocacy organization hired the two veteran federal prosecutors to build a team focused on fighting the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"339\">Trump administration\u2019s<\/a> \u201ccorruption and weaponization of government.\u201d The nonprofit group filed more than 150 lawsuits against the administration last year.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4685417\/trump-lawsuit-paid-early-access-truth-social-posts-market-manipulation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump sued for selling early access to market-shaking Truth Social posts<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4685235\/jack-smith-deputies-democracy-forward\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jack Smith\u2019s former deputies join anti-Trump legal advocacy organization<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4684895\/doj-first-arrest-southern-poverty-law-center-fraud-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ makes first arrest in Southern Poverty Law Center fraud case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith\u2019s former top deputies worked on Trump\u2019s federal prosecutions until those cases were dismissed. They were then fired in the early days of Trump\u2019s second term. Both were career DOJ prosecutors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor years, we represented the United States in holding the most powerful accountable for public corruption and civil rights abuses,\u201d Cooney and Gaston said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/democracyforward.org\/news\/press-releases\/veteran-prosecutors-j-p-cooney-and-molly-gaston-join-democracy-forward-launching-anti-corruption-initiative-to-confront-ethics-abuses-and-the-weaponization-of-the-government-against-the-people\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/democracyforward.org\/news\/press-releases\/veteran-prosecutors-j-p-cooney-and-molly-gaston-join-democracy-forward-launching-anti-corruption-initiative-to-confront-ethics-abuses-and-the-weaponization-of-the-government-against-the-people\/\">joint statement<\/a> released by the organization they\u2019re joining. \u201cGiven this administration\u2019s deprioritization of such enforcement at a time of unprecedented self-dealing throughout the federal government, we are privileged to join Democracy Forward\u2019s incredibly talented and courageous team in the fight for accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman welcomed the two new hires, whom he said \u201chave dedicated their careers to serving the American people and the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of Democracy Forward\u2019s recent lawsuits successfully halted the DOJ\u2019s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, which arose from a settlement between Trump and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/internal-revenue-service\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2339\">Internal Revenue Service<\/a> regarding his past leaked tax returns.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, the left-leaning group sued the DOJ and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"516\">FBI<\/a> after they did not hand over records related to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11691\">Kash Patel\u2019s<\/a> alleged \u201cexcessive alcohol consumption and unexplained absences\u201d during his tenure at the bureau. The plaintiff filed multiple <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/freedom-of-information-act\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2112\">Freedom of Information Act<\/a> requests before filing the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democracy Forward is involved in several other legal cases against the Trump administration, including those related to voting rights and election integrity. These types of cases are expected to be a core focus of Cooney and Gaston\u2019s work at the organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur promise to the American people remains: we will use all the tools our democracy provides to protect the rights of people and our Constitution,\u201d Perryman said. \u201cOur launch of a new anti-corruption practice will enable us to do this as threats to our elections and to the people escalate in the coming months and years.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooney and Gaston are challenging their firings from the DOJ, arguing they were unlawful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4673584\/chuck-grassley-jack-smith-testify-senate-judiciary\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4673584\/chuck-grassley-jack-smith-testify-senate-judiciary\/\">SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY INVITES JACK SMITH TO TESTIFY BEFORE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After their departures from the DOJ last year, Cooney and Gaston launched their own private law firm in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"260\">Washington, D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from practicing law, Cooney previously ran as a Democrat for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"96\">Virginia\u2019s<\/a> 7th Congressional District until the state\u2019s new congressional map, which would have heavily favored Democrats, was tossed. The former candidate said he was \u201cdisappointed\u201d in the Virginia Supreme Court\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"241\">redistricting<\/a> decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JP Cooney and Molly Gaston join Democracy Forward to fight Trump corruption<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2643823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25016848525273.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[84067,84066,32463,84068,35288],"class_list":["post-2643822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anti-trump-advocacy","tag-deputy-lawyers","tag-jack-smith","tag-legal-organization","tag-political-campaigns"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25016848525273.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643822"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643826,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643822\/revisions\/2643826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}