Department of Justice officials shuffled to new roles: reports

DOJ officials were reportedly shuffled before Trump's expected confirmation as U.S. attorney general.

The DOJ removed multiple career staffers from their positions in the criminal and national security divisions and reassign them.

It is challenging to dismiss a career individual, but reassigning them is an option, which seems to have occurred.

Bruce Schwartz, head of the office of internal affairs, was one of the DOJ officials moved to other positions, along with about 20 others, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

George Toscas, a seasoned deputy assistant attorney general in the national security division, played a crucial role in managing high-profile terrorism and espionage investigations and was also a prominent figure in politically motivated probes during the past decade.

Toscas was involved in probes into Clinton's and Trump's handling of classified information.

Another source close to the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that Toscas’ reassignment had been confirmed.

""George Toscas is the most knowledgeable person in the department about prosecuting and investigating terrorists and spies, according to a former colleague who spoke anonymously to The Washington Post," a former colleague of Toscas’ told The Washington Post."

On Monday afternoon, Eun Young Choi, a deputy assistant attorney general in the national security division, was reassigned within the department and notified via email.

The DOJ declined to comment on the changes.

The DOJ removed at least four senior officials from the division that operates the nation's immigration courts, which are currently backlogged, hours after Trump took the oath of office.

The 120-day moratorium on some staff reassignments after newly confirmed leaders begin their appointments, under federal guidelines, has not yet been implemented in the DOJ because Bondi has not yet been confirmed.

As of Friday, James McHenry is serving as the acting U.S. attorney general at the DOJ, following Merrick Garland's departure from the department.

The reasons for the new administration's appointment of its own hires to lead the DOJ are not yet clear, as it is typical for a new administration to make changes in leadership.

Trump's interest in the department that investigated him during his first term and indicted him twice last year in separate cases that never reached trial and were withdrawn after his election win in November could foreshadow additional changes.