In her first major action as Harris County's incoming district attorney, Kim Ogg announced Friday she has shown 40 prosecutors the door in a massive shake-up as as she prepares to take office Jan. 1.

Ogg, who was elected in November as the county's chief prosecutor, notified prosecutors by email Friday that their services will not be needed in the new administration.

"Change is coming," Ogg told reporters Friday afternoon. "My administration is headed in a new direction."

The terminations have been expected as Ogg - who ran on a campaign of reform - worked to install her own lieutenants and administrators.

The district attorney's office employs about 329 lawyers, with a well-established hierarchy that includes bureau chiefs, division chiefs and trial chiefs.

Most prosecutors who lost their jobs could not be reached for comment late Friday. Emails explaining that they would not be invited to stay were sent out around noon, and two people who asked not to be identified said many staffers were in tears.

Ogg, a former felony chief prosecutor under longtime District Attorney Johnny Holmes, will take the oath of office Jan. 1. The Democrat beat Republican incumbent Devon Anderson in the November election.

Anderson took the opportunity Friday to fire a shot at Ogg, relasing a statement that the new administration "fired by email 37 experienced prosecutors 9 days before Christmas."

"With her first act as District Attorney, Ogg is endangering the citizens of Harris County," Anderson said. "The dedicated prosecutors let go today had a combined 685 years of service."

Ogg said Anderson's announcement was "irresponsible," and noted, "the business of the DA's office will go on."

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