Pam Bondi Ousts Dozens in DOJ Shake-Up Tied to Trump Probes and January 6 Cases

Attorney General Pam Bondi has initiated a sweeping internal purge within the Department of Justice, removing over 20 officials connected to high-profile investigations involving former President Donald Trump. The latest wave of terminations, reported Saturday, targets personnel involved in prosecutions related to the January 6 Capitol riot and Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.

According to insider accounts, this marks a continuation of a broader restructuring effort under Bondi’s leadership. The total number of dismissals now tied to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations has reached approximately 35, with as many as 15 additional staffers under review for potential termination in the coming weeks.

Sources familiar with the decision told Axios that the move aims to root out what Bondi’s inner circle considers politically motivated actors within the department—individuals they believe worked against Trump’s interests during his time out of office and leading into the current administration.

The latest firings reportedly affected attorneys, investigators, administrative staff, and even some U.S. Marshals, many of whom had volunteered or been assigned to teams investigating the Capitol breach and the classified documents discovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Offices affected span across Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, and additional field branches across the country.

This internal effort was led by Bondi’s recently established “Weaponization Working Group,” a task force charged with identifying officials whose work allegedly reflected anti-Trump bias or political entrenchment. A senior administration official stated, “Some of these people were burrowed deep into the system. We’re finding them, reviewing their records, and making decisions based on their alignment with the DOJ’s current direction.”

The dismissals were initially scheduled for earlier in the week but were delayed due to internal fallout from the DOJ’s recent announcement regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. That memo concluded that there was no “client list” of influential figures connected to Epstein and reaffirmed the official ruling of his 2019 death as a suicide, rather than a targeted killing. The decision sparked outrage among pro-Trump influencers and led to a rift within the administration itself.

In particular, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was reportedly furious over the timing and tone of the Epstein announcement. Sources described a tense exchange between Bongino and Bondi earlier in the week, during which Bongino is said to have challenged the handling of the memo and its implications for public trust. His absence from work on Friday added fuel to speculation that he may be considering resignation. However, as of Friday afternoon, he had not officially stepped down.

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche played a key role in temporarily halting the dismissals until leadership could realign their messaging and confirm the terminations were restricted to personnel not aligned with the department’s current mission.

Bondi has since defended her actions, stating that those removed were individuals whose conduct and case priorities reflected an overt political agenda. “The Department of Justice must operate above politics,” a spokesperson close to Bondi said. “This isn’t about revenge—it’s about restoring integrity and impartiality to federal investigations.”

Critics argue, however, that the firings could be seen as politically motivated themselves, particularly given their focus on personnel connected to probes into Trump’s conduct. But administration insiders insist the actions are necessary to ensure future prosecutions aren’t tainted by partisan influence.

The Epstein announcement has also triggered widespread backlash from those within the MAGA movement who anticipated the release of bombshell revelations implicating high-profile political and business figures. Many had long expected that Bondi and Trump’s administration would unveil a so-called “client list” or at least provide further insight into the nature of Epstein’s connections to powerful elites.

Instead, the DOJ’s announcement dismissed such expectations, citing a lack of evidence supporting conspiracy theories that Epstein was murdered or maintained blackmail material on influential individuals.

Blanche attempted to calm tensions, posting a statement on X that read, “Any suggestion that there was a divide between FBI and DOJ leadership over the Epstein memo is completely false. There is unity and agreement at the highest levels.”

Despite internal divisions and external pressure, Bondi has signaled her commitment to remain in office and continue what she views as a crucial realignment of the Justice Department. Her team maintains that additional reviews are underway and that more terminations could be announced soon, depending on the findings.

As this wave of reorganization continues, it remains to be seen how the public and political establishment will respond—and whether the DOJ can maintain stability amid rising tensions and controversial decisions.