Bondi Cleans House at DOJ: Dozens Fired Over Trump, J6 Prosecutions

Attorney General Pam Bondi is making good on her promise to root out politically compromised actors from the Department of Justice, with over 20 staffers involved in cases against President Donald J. Trump now dismissed in a sweeping internal purge.

According to Axios, the latest round of terminations targeted attorneys, support personnel, and even U.S. Marshals who played roles in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s politically motivated investigations—namely, the January 6 Capitol unrest and the alleged mishandling of classified documents by President Trump.

“The new dismissals bring the total Smith-related firings to about 35,” the outlet reported. “About 15 more could face termination.”

Initial reports from Reuters noted nine firings Friday night, but Axios sources clarified the number was closer to 20, with up to 37 total DOJ employees potentially affected. Those released came from offices in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, and elsewhere.

This marks Bondi’s second major personnel action since taking office. Prior to these firings, 14 individuals linked to Smith’s team had already been let go.

The dismissals stem from an internal review by Bondi’s “Weaponization Working Group,” a task force she formed to identify and remove ideologically entrenched DOJ operatives who worked to undermine President Trump during his first and second terms.

“We’re reviewing and making sure,” an administration official told Axios. “Some of these people were burrowed deep, and we’re finding them and making a determination.”

Though the firings had originally been scheduled for earlier in the week, they were delayed following the controversial DOJ announcement that no “Epstein client list” would be released and that the financier’s death had officially been ruled a suicide. The fallout from that revelation triggered a public backlash across the MAGA base.

Bondi’s decision not to disclose further Epstein files led to a confrontation with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a longtime skeptic of the government’s narrative on Epstein. According to Axios, tensions flared during a White House meeting last Wednesday, where Bongino reportedly clashed with Bondi over her handling of the announcement. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly intervened, insisting terminations proceed cautiously and only target those proven to be disloyal to the Trump administration’s mission.

As speculation swirled about Bongino’s possible resignation, sources told CNN he did not show up for work on Friday, although no formal resignation had been submitted as of that afternoon. “The whole thing has been a complete mess and no one is happy,” a DOJ insider told CNN.

Blanche later issued a public statement attempting to contain the fallout, writing on X:

“The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”

Despite internal turmoil, Bondi remains steadfast in her mission. Florida’s Voice assistant news director Eric Daugherty reported that Bondi has “every intention to stay and serve” through the turbulence, citing a Fox News source.

Bondi has defended the purge as necessary, stating that the officials dismissed were driven by partisan agendas and pursued Trump in service of then-President Joe Biden’s political interests.

This house-cleaning marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing restoration of a weaponized justice system back to one rooted in equal treatment under the law.