The U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, dismissed the Justice Department’s top ethics adviser on Friday. This move adds to a growing list of firings amid efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to target civil servants in the department.
Joseph Tirrell, who led the Justice Department’s ethics office since 2023, announced his firing on LinkedIn. He posted the termination letter from Bondi, which misspelled his name and gave no reason for his dismissal.
Tirrell and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.
In his LinkedIn post, Tirrell said, “My public service is not over, and my career as a Federal civil servant is not finished. I took the oath at 18 as a Midshipman to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States.’ I have taken that oath at least five more times since then. That oath did not come with the caveat that I need only support the Constitution when it is easy or convenient.”
Tirrell was in charge of reviewing financial disclosures and other ethics matters concerning Bondi and other senior officials in the department, according to Bloomberg Law. He led a team of about 30 staff members responsible for ensuring the department followed ethical rules.
This firing occurs as Bondi continues to dismiss career employees connected to the investigation by special counsel Jack Smith into former President Trump. The dismissals have included prosecutors and support staff. At the same time, Ed Martin, known for defending January 6 rioters, was appointed to lead a department working group on alleged misuse of officials who investigated Trump.
It is unclear if Tirrell’s firing is linked to the recent January 6-related dismissals. Earlier this year, Tirrell approved $140,000 worth of free legal services given to Smith before Smith resigned, according to Politico.
This latest firing highlights ongoing tensions within the Justice Department as political pressures increase. The role of the ethics office is critical to maintaining trust and accountability among top officials, making Tirrell’s dismissal notable.
