In a recent development, Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed the Director of Ethics at the Department of Justice, Joseph Tirrell, as part of an ongoing restructuring within the agency.
The termination letter, delivered on Friday, did not specify the reasons behind this decision.
As reported by Bloomberg Law, Bondi's dismissal notice to Tirrell mirrored those sent to numerous other civil servants within the Trump administration. The notices reference Article II of the Constitution, which pertains to presidential powers. Tirrell publicized his termination on LinkedIn, sharing what appeared to be the letter he received.
According to Bloomberg, Tirrell's dismissal is distinct but could be linked to the termination of approximately 20 employees involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations, which occurred on July 11. Sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, revealed that Tirrell had been advising Smith's office on ethical matters during his criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump. This included Tirrell's approval of Smith's receipt of $140,000 in pro bono legal fees from Covington & Burling, which Smith disclosed upon concluding his investigation.
Conservative commentator Julie Kelly provided additional insight into the situation. She posted on social media, "Tirrell, among other things, reviewed disclosure reports by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Reports indicate he reviewedand perhaps approvedSmith receiving $140k in pro bono legal services from Covington & Burling after the president won in 2024." Kelly further questioned the other 'ethical' conduct that Tirrell may have endorsed.
Tirrell's official DOJ profile reveals that he assumed the role of Director of the Ethics Office in July 2023, following over a decade of service in the FBI. He joined the Ethics Office in 2018.
This decision by Bondi comes amidst mounting criticism over her management of the Jeffrey Epstein files, particularly following the administration's recent announcement that no "client list" exists. This has led to a clash with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who reportedly took Friday off following a disagreement with Bondi at the White House.
Some conservatives have called for Bondi's resignation after she suggested earlier this year that she had the "Epstein list" on her desk. During a Fox News interview in February, shortly after her confirmation as Attorney General, Bondi stated that the Epstein file was on her desk for review, along with JFK and MLK files. She clarified this statement during a Cabinet meeting last week, emphasizing that she was not confirming the existence of an Epstein client list.
President Trump intervened in the controversy over the weekend, expressing his support for Bondi on Truth Social. He wrote, "Whats going on with my boys and, in some cases, gals? Theyre all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" He further criticized those attempting to undermine his administration over the Epstein issue, questioning why the "Radical Left Lunatics" had not released the Epstein Files if they contained damaging information against the MAGA Movement.
As the situation unfolds, the question remains: will the dismissal of Tirrell and the ongoing scrutiny over the Epstein files impact the Trump administration's standing, or will it weather this storm as it has many others? Only time will tell.
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