Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed at least nine staff members from the Justice Department this week, all of whom were involved in criminal investigations against former President Donald Trump. This series of terminations has raised eyebrows amid ongoing chaos within the agency and comes as Bondi faces criticism from various political factions.
Reports indicate that the firings were part of Bondi’s “Weaponization Working Group,” an initiative aimed at addressing what the department describes as “abuses of the criminal justice process.” Critics argue that this effort could be perceived as retribution against those seen as adversaries of Trump. According to The New York Times and Reuters, the dismissed employees include prosecutors who worked alongside Special Counsel Jack Smith on the Trump cases, as well as support staff integral to the investigations.
This recent wave of firings marks a significant development, as it appears to be the first time support staff involved in the Trump-related criminal cases have lost their positions. Since January, the Justice Department has terminated approximately 15 prosecutors connected to these cases, with an additional two employees fired in June. The total number of dismissed staff members now stands at a minimum of 26, with some estimates suggesting the figure could be as high as 35, according to Axios.
The Justice Department has not provided a comment regarding the firings. Additionally, reports suggest that around 15 more employees remain under scrutiny and may also face termination as the administration continues to assess perceived loyalty to Trump. An anonymous administration official remarked, “We’re reviewing and making sure. Some of these people were burrowed deep, and we’re finding them and making a determination.”
In a separate but related matter, Bondi has faced backlash regarding the department’s handling of an investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A memo released by the department indicated that it would not disclose further details about the investigation and denied the existence of a list detailing Epstein’s associates. This decision has sparked outrage among Trump supporters, with prominent figures such as Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, and Laura Loomer calling for Bondi’s resignation. Beck stated on social media that “Pam Bondi should resign—not because of a cover-up, but for incompetence,” while Loomer has labeled her “Scam Blondi,” accusing Bondi of jeopardizing Trump’s administration.
The uproar over the Epstein investigation reportedly led Bondi to postpone the firings of employees linked to Trump’s cases, which were initially scheduled to occur earlier this week. The Biden administration initiated two criminal cases against Trump, one concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty to both charges, and the cases were ultimately dismissed after his election, in line with the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Trump has consistently characterized the legal actions against him as politically motivated “witch hunts” designed to undermine his presidential campaign. He appointed Bondi as attorney general in part to ensure loyalty and to address grievances stemming from the previous term, where he faced resistance from former attorneys general like William Barr.
Under Bondi’s leadership, the Justice Department has largely aligned with Trump’s goals, including the dismissal of prosecutors involved in cases against those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots and the implementation of stringent immigration policies, despite facing accusations of defying court orders. The Trump administration has denied knowingly violating any legal directives.
As the situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen how these firings will impact the ongoing political landscape and the Justice Department’s handling of high-profile cases involving former officials.
