Trump vows to replace head of National Archives as top prosecutor in classified documents case leaves DOJ

As Donald Trump prepares to take office this month, two agencies involved in the criminal case that accused the president-elect of mishandling classified documents face changes in key roles.

Jay Bratt, lead prosecutor in the documents case, which has since been dismissed, left the Justice Department last week, a spokesman confirmed Monday.

Bratt, a senior national security official assigned to special prosecutor Jack Smith’s office, retired Friday after 34 years with the department.

NBC News reported that Smith and his team planned to resign before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Meanwhile, Trump said Monday that he intends to replace Colleen Shogan as director of the National Archives.

“We’re going to have a new archivist,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

In response to a request for comment, the Archives said in a statement Monday night that Shogan “has had a strong working relationship” with Trump and his team.

“We look forward to continuing that relationship with the new administration,” the statement said.

The National Archives alerted the Justice Department in 2022 that Trump had potentially mishandled classified documents after he did not return all the records it requested, according to the federal indictment. While Trump ultimately handed over some of the requested documents, he withheld others.

Shogan, the first woman to lead the agency, was not in the top position at the time.

The FBI later raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, and Trump became the first former president to be charged with federal crimes. He pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.

Presidents must turn over their records to the National Archives once they leave office.

A Trump-appointed federal judge dismissed the case in July, saying Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional. Smith appealed but was forced to close the case after Trump’s election to a second term, given the Justice Department’s long-standing policy that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly promised to investigate those they perceive as opponents and critics. Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, has used accusations of a “deep state” conspiracy to fuel his rise in Trump’s circle and has vowed to go after judges, lawyers and journalists who have investigated Trump.

The president has the authority to remove the director of the National Archives and choose a replacement, who must be confirmed by the Senate.



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