By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two federal prosecutors who once worked for former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco have been fired, as President Donald Trump’s administration expands its targeting of people with any connection to the federal cases against him during his years out of power, three people familiar with the matter said.
Trump in recent days has also pressured Monaco’s new employer, Microsoft, to fire her.
The DOJ on Wednesday fired Michael Ben’Ary, a 20-year veteran who led the national security section in the Eastern District of Virginia, after he was targeted online by a far-right influencer about his prior work with Monaco.
Last week, the department fired Maya Song, a former first assistant who worked in the same office. She had previously served as a counsel to Monaco and had also been targeted online.
The Justice Department declined comment, citing the government shutdown. Song and Ben’Ary could not immediately be reached.
Monaco, who serves as Microsoft’s president of global affairs, served in the Justice Department while Special Counsel Jack Smith prosecuted Trump over his retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. She also coordinated the Justice Department’s response to the January 6, 2021, attacks by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.
Microsoft declined to comment.
The Eastern District of Virginia handles high-profile terrorism and espionage cases, and recently brought federal charges against former FBI Director James Comey.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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