Overview
- In September, the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility hosted a two‑hour presentation by former Nixon aide Geoff Shepard and is conducting a preliminary review of his allegations.
- Shepard presented a 78‑page slide deck titled “Watergate As Lawfare” and showed internal files to allege special prosecutors Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski met secretly with judges and suppressed defense evidence.
- OPR and DOJ spokespeople confirmed the presentation took place and stressed that the session does not itself constitute a formal investigation and that it is unclear whether a full probe will follow.
- The review follows a coordinated conservative effort to recast Nixon’s downfall and draw historical parallels between Richard Nixon and President Donald Trump, promoted by figures such as Vice President JD Vance and Rep. Riley Moore.
- The development matters institutionally because OPR was created after Watergate to police Justice Department misconduct and reopening settled findings could affect public trust in prosecutors and arguments over limits on presidential power.