Schiff, other Democrats blast AG Bondi over firing of top DOJ ethics official

Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking fire from all sides, first, from Republicans over the Jeffrey Epstein files, and now from Democrats in the wake of her firing of the Justice Department’s top ethics attorney.

According to The Hill, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and other high-profile Democrats have demanded that Bondi provide her rationale for firing Joseph Tirrell, director of the Departmental Ethics Office.

Tirrell has been a staple at the DOJ under multiple administrations, having spent 20 years at the Justice Department and the FBI. His firing this week sent shockwaves across Washington D.C.

Bondi was handed a scathing letter signed by Schiff and “Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Peter Welch (Vt.).”

What’s going on?

The Democrats who wrote the letter held nothing back in excoriating Bondi for firing Tirrell.

“This latest dismissal of a career ethics official continues the Department’s systematic dismantling of its internal ethics safeguards under your watch, which further undermines public confidence and congressional trust in the Department and its senior leadership,” the group of angry Democrats wrote.

Schiff and the Democrats pointed out that Bondi, during her tumultuous Senate confirmation hearings, vowed that she would lean on the DOJ’s ethics officials for guidance.

“You also stated in your own written responses to the Committee that you would ‘consult with the appropriate officials at the Department of Justice, including career ethics officials, regarding any matters that raise conflict of interest concerns prior to making any decisions,” Schiff and his group wrote.

🚨 Pam Bondi fires DOJ Ethics Chief Joseph Tirrell — who approved Jack Smith’s undisclosed $140K pro bono legal aid. Over 20 others tied to Trump probes also terminated.#DOJPurge pic.twitter.com/Tt5pm90g67

— TruthNest USA (@PriyanshuG31640) July 14, 2025

They added, “However, your removal of remaining career ethics officials renders these commitments meaningless and leaves the Department without the institutional expertise necessary to provide rigorous, impartial ethical guidance.”

Social media reacts

Terrell didn’t find much in the way of sympathy across social media, as many wondered why he had been kept on this long.

“Why was he not fired on day one? Why was @AGPamBondi taking advice from him?” one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, “Tirrell is a deep state commie.”

It’ll be interesting to see who else gets their marching papers at the DOJ under Bondi’s authority.

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