JP Cooney and Molly Gaston, former deputies of Jack Smith at the Department of Justice, have joined the legal advocacy organization Democracy Forward. Their role will focus on addressing issues related to government corruption and the alleged misuse of power during the Trump administration. Democracy Forward has filed over 150 lawsuits against the Trump administration in the past year.
Cooney and Gaston were involved in federal prosecutions against Trump until those cases were dismissed, and they were subsequently terminated early in Trump's second term. In a joint statement, they expressed their commitment to holding powerful figures accountable for public corruption and civil rights abuses.
Democracy Forward's President, Skye Perryman, praised their dedication to the rule of law. The organization has recently halted a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund linked to a settlement involving Trump and the Internal Revenue Service regarding his tax returns. Additionally, Democracy Forward has filed lawsuits related to voting rights and election integrity, which will be a focus for Cooney and Gaston.
Cooney and Gaston are also contesting their firings from the DOJ, claiming they were unlawful. Following their departure, they established a private law firm in Washington, D.C. Cooney had previously run for a congressional seat in Virginia but was disappointed by a redistricting decision that affected his candidacy.