Department of Justice reviews Watergate-era misconduct allegations

The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing whether the special prosecutor’s office involved in the Watergate scandal committed misconduct more than 50 years ago. Geoff Shepard, a former Nixon aide and Watergate historian, recently delivered a two-hour presentation at Justice Department headquarters to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), an internal watchdog.

Shepard’s presentation, titled ‘Watergate As Lawfare,’ argues that the investigation into President Richard Nixon was driven by ‘deep state’ actors. He presented internal documents to suggest that special prosecutors Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski violated defendants' due process rights.

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed that Shepard gave the presentation but clarified that it does not signify the opening of a formal investigation. The spokesperson stated that the OPR remains focused on ensuring attorneys meet professional standards and noted that a previous request to open an investigation was declined in 2022.