Pam Bondi abruptly fires Justice Department’s top ethics chief in four-sentence letter
Pam Bondi misspells DoJ ethics director’s name in letter firing him
- Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed Joseph Tirrell, the ethics director at the Department of Justice, in a letter that misspelled his name and gave no reason for his immediate termination.
- Tirrell, who led a team ensuring ethical adherence among government lawyers and officials, had approved pro bono legal fees for Special Counsel Jack Smith, though it is unclear if this is related to his firing.
- His termination is the latest in a significant departure of career prosecutors from the Justice Department during the Trump administration, following Bondi's purge of staff involved in investigations.
- Critics suggest Tirrell's abrupt dismissal highlights Attorney General Bondi's own ethical conflicts and raises concerns about potential hidden issues within the department.
- The shake-up at the Justice Department also coincides with the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, which has drawn criticism from supporters.