Watergate prosecutor review
Justice Department reviews presentation alleging historical misconduct by Watergate prosecutors.
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Key Points
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Shepard’s presentation included internal documents from the Watergate Special Prosecution Force and was titled “Watergate As Lawfare.”
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Shepard’s specific allegations included that prosecutors secretly met with judges overseeing the cases and withheld evidence from defendants’ legal teams.
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OPR had declined Shepard’s request to open an investigation in 2022, before inviting him to present his claims.
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The Office of Professional Responsibility was created in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility heard a presentation from Geoff Shepard, a former Nixon aide, who argues that Watergate prosecutors broke the law decades ago. The Daily Wire reported that Shepard accused prosecutors of secretly meeting with judges and hiding evidence from defendants. The DOJ said the presentation does not mean it opened an investigation, though officials are reviewing the claims.
The episode reflects a larger Republican effort to reframe Nixon's downfall as prosecutorial overreach. The Dispatch noted that Vice President JD Vance and others have drawn comparisons between Watergate prosecutors and investigators who pursued President Trump, framing both as examples of unfair legal targeting.
Shepard's Allegations Target Core Watergate Tactics
Shepard presented internal Watergate Special Prosecution Force documents with a title: "Watergate As Lawfare." Western Journal reported his claims that prosecutors secretly coordinated with judges overseeing cases. He also alleged they withheld evidence from defense teams. Shepard's presentation marked the first time the OPR officially heard his grievances in detail since rejecting his investigation request in 2022.
DOJ Clarifies It Has Not Opened a Formal Investigation
The Justice Department stressed that Shepard's presentation does not constitute the start of an official probe. Irish Star reported that the department is conducting a preliminary review of the allegations. This distinction matters: the OPR can examine claims without formally investigating prosecutorial misconduct from half a century ago.
Republicans Draw Parallels Between Nixon and Trump Cases
The Shepard presentation fits a broader Republican narrative casting both Nixon and Trump as victims of prosecutorial excess. Truthout reported that some view the Watergate prosecutors as examples of "deep state" persecution. Vice President Vance has publicly made this comparison, suggesting that the same forces that brought down Nixon now target Trump.
The OPR Itself Was Born From Watergate's Fallout
Ironically, the Office of Professional Responsibility was created in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. The agency was designed to review misconduct by Justice Department lawyers. Now it is examining accusations that the very prosecutors who investigated Watergate violated ethics rules during their work on the case.
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