Prosecutors Left Classified Facility Unsecured in 2024

Messages from the office of former special counsel Jack Smith show that in 2024 a facility used to review sensitive information was left open overnight and possibly longer. One exchange asked who had opened the facility the previous day; the reply stated it had not been closed the day before.

A second set of messages indicated the team provided classified materials to an unidentified person without first confirming that person needed to see them. Both incidents took place while the team, operating within the Department of Justice, was prosecuting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for alleged mishandling of classified materials.

A senator who reviewed the messages said the records show the team may have committed the same offense for which it was prosecuting Trump. The senator described the conduct as hypocritical and careless and requested additional records from the acting attorney general, including whether the unlocked facility held materials from the Trump case and whether the department investigated the lapses.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the department takes safeguarding classified information seriously and reviews alleged security lapses through established internal processes. The spokesperson added that every official must follow strict security protocols without exception.

was appointed in November 2022 to manage investigations into Trump. Federal prosecutors later charged Trump with violations of federal law governing classified information and other counts; the cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 election. Part of Smith’s final report was released publicly before Trump’s second term began.