Former Deputy to Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith Announces Congressional Run in Virginia

J.P. Cooney, who previously worked as a deputy to former special counsel Jack Smith, has announced his candidacy for a congressional seat in Virginia. The announcement was made on Wednesday morning through a post on LinkedIn, with Cooney expressing his commitment to his community and the importance of making his stance clear. He stated, “I don’t want my children, friends, or community to have any doubt about where I stand in this moment.” He added, “Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Congress in Virginia’s proposed new Seventh District.”

Cooney, a member of the Democratic Party, shared his announcement alongside an article from The New York Times, which initially reported his decision to run for office. His LinkedIn profile provides some background on his involvement with Smith, noting that he played a significant role as a lead prosecutor in the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump. These cases involved accusations of obstruction of justice and conspiracy linked to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and issues around the handling of classified documents. The Justice Department dismissed Cooney and his colleagues from the special counsel’s office shortly after Trump’s second term began.

The new district where Cooney intends to run extends from Arlington to more rural areas of Virginia. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, this district has a tendency to lean towards the Democratic Party, as evidenced by the support of over 58% for Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger in the previous elections. This redistricting move, driven by Democrats in Virginia, was in response to Republican-led redistricting efforts. The state Supreme Court’s approval is still pending for the new map, following a county circuit judge’s decision that legislators could not present the map to voters in April.

Details from last month reveal that Jack Smith told lawmakers of evidence pointing to a “criminal scheme” involving Trump in attempts to overturn the election results. Smith also spearheaded the inquiry into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, although the case was dismissed on the grounds of his appointment being deemed unlawful. Despite the charges, Trump has strongly denied any wrongdoing and insists on claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 election. Moreover, concerns arose among Congressional Democrats with the FBI’s recent seizure of ballots and voter data in Fulton County, Georgia, fearing that these could signal an attempt to revive fraud claims before the midterm elections.

Cooney’s LinkedIn profile also highlights his notable work against extremist groups and individuals like the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, and Peter Navarro, in the aftermath of Trump’s allies promoting false claims regarding the presidential election. He emphasizes bipartisanship as an essential part of his career. Having spent nearly 18 years in the Justice Department, Cooney and other special counsel prosecutors were let go in January 2025.

The article also notes contributions from Megan Lebowitz, a politics reporter with NBC News, and Ryan J. Reilly.