Former Deputy to Special Counsel Announces Congressional Run in Virginia

J.P. Cooney, previously a deputy to ex-special counsel Jack Smith, made an announcement on Wednesday morning regarding his intention to run for Congress in Virginia. Cooney declared his candidacy for Virginia’s newly proposed Seventh District in a LinkedIn post, emphasizing his commitment to clear communication with his children, friends, and community.

“I don’t want my children, friends, or community to have any doubt about where I stand in this moment,” Cooney stated, reaffirming his decision to stand as a Democratic candidate. He also shared a related article from The New York Times, which initially reported on his electoral campaign.

Cooney’s impressive career includes serving as a lead prosecutor under Jack Smith. His work is notably associated with major criminal prosecutions, including the federal indictments against former President Donald Trump. These indictments accused Trump of obstructing justice and conspiracy, involving efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents.

Cooney, along with other members of the special counsel’s office, was discharged from the Justice Department during the early days of Trump’s second term. However, he remains influential, now seeking to represent a proposed congressional district that spans from Arlington to more rural parts of Virginia. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, this district shows a Democratic leaning, as over 58% of the voters favored Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger in recent elections.

The redistricting process in Virginia, led by Democrats, faced challenges both locally and in several other states. The proposed map is currently under review by the state Supreme Court, following a ruling by a county circuit judge that opposed bringing the new map to voters.

In recent public testimony, Jack Smith asserted that he held robust evidence of Trump’s involvement in criminal activities to overturn the 2020 election. Smith also spearheaded the document mishandling investigation, which was dismissed later due to procedural issues regarding his appointment.

Trump has consistently denied any misconduct, pleading not guilty and continuing to assert unfounded claims of electoral fraud. These allegations are further complicated by the FBI’s recent retrieval of ballots and voter data from a Georgia election hub, sparking Democratic concern about renewed fraud allegations ahead of midterm elections.

Notably critical of Smith, Trump has disparaged him publicly, while hoping the Attorney General will scrutinize his actions.

On his LinkedIn, Cooney detailed his involvement in cases against groups and individuals like the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, and Peter Navarro, in light of misleading narratives surrounding the 2020 elections. Cooney emphasized bipartisanship throughout his career, marking it as central to both his life and work approach.

With a nearly 18-year tenure at the Justice Department, Cooney was among those dismissed alongside other special counsel prosecutors in January 2025, as reflected in his professional biography.