Fired former Jack Smith deputy running for Congress

by Julia Mueller - 02/11/26 

“I stood up to Donald Trump as a federal prosecutor, and I’ll do it again in Congress.”

Cooney plans to run in Virginia’s newly drawn 7th Congressional District, which will have an open seat if a proposed map takes hold before the midterms. 

Democrats in the Virginia state legislature this week advanced a House map that would give the party a 10-1 edge in its congressional delegation, if approved by voters. A state court threw up a recent hurdle to the plan taking effect before November, but Democrats are appealing that ruling. 

Cooney’s campaign is banking on Virginia voters approving the new district lines in an April referendum. 

Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) currently holds the 7th District, but the map would shift him to the 1st.

A prosecutor in both criminal prosecutions of Trump, Cooney was fired from his position as the president booted officials who were part of Smith’s teams. Trump had promised along the 2024 campaign trail to fire Smith on day one, but Smith resigned ahead of Trump’s second inauguration.

After leaving the DOJ, Cooney and another attorney launched a law firm focused on public corruption cases.


THE HILL - J.P. COONEY