Attorney General Pam Bondi Fires Top DOJ Ethics Adviser, Sparks Retaliation Concerns

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed the Justice Department’s leading ethics adviser, Joseph Tirrell, on Friday, marking the latest in a series of controversial terminations. This action fuels growing concerns about potential retribution against career civil servants within the agency by the Trump administration and its allies.

Joseph Tirrell, who has headed the Justice Department’s ethics office since 2023, publicly revealed his firing in a LinkedIn post. He shared Bondi’s termination letter, which conspicuously misspelled his name and provided no reason for his abrupt dismissal. Neither Tirrell nor the Justice Department has responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

In his post, Tirrell affirmed his commitment to public service, stating, “My public service is not over, and my career as a Federal civil servant is not finished.” He underscored his unwavering dedication to his constitutional oath, emphasizing that it does not come with conditions based on ease or convenience.

As the head of the ethics office, Tirrell was responsible for overseeing a team of approximately 30 individuals who reviewed financial disclosures and ensured adherence to the department’s ethical guidelines for top officials, including Attorney General Bondi.

Tirrell’s firing coincides with a broader pattern of dismissals initiated by Bondi, reportedly targeting career employees connected to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump. These terminations reportedly include both career prosecutors and support staff. The situation is further compounded by the recent selection of Ed Martin, a prominent defender of January 6 rioters, to lead a departmental working group investigating the alleged “weaponization” of officials involved in Trump-related probes.

While it remains unclear if Tirrell’s dismissal is directly related to January 6-linked terminations, Politico previously reported that Tirrell had approved $140,000 worth of free legal services for Special Counsel Smith before Smith’s resignation earlier this year.

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