Attorney General Pam Bondi took decisive action on Friday by terminating a Department of Justice paralegal due to inappropriate behavior toward National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The dismissal stems from an investigation into multiple incidents involving Elizabeth Baxter, a paralegal in the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
According to Bondi, Baxter confessed to making an obscene gesture towards a National Guard member at a Metro Center station and verbally insulting him. Surveillance footage confirmed that on the same day, she repeated this behavior outside the DOJ’s 4CON building. A week later, she allegedly insulted a DOJ security guard while entering the building. These actions were reviewed through witness statements and security video, which factored heavily into the investigation’s findings.
In her memorandum of removal, Bondi stated, “You are removed from your position of Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-11, Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and from the federal service, effective immediately,” emphasizing that the behavior was unacceptable. Baxter retains the right to appeal through the Merit Systems Protection Board within thirty days.
Bondi’s announcement was echoed on social media, where she declared, “Today, I took action to terminate a DOJ employee for inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members in D.C.” She affirmed her commitment to upholding the mission of the Justice Department, aligned with President Trump’s agenda for law and order. “If you oppose our mission and disrespect law enforcement… you will NO LONGER work at DOJ,” she stated, highlighting her stance on maintaining discipline within the department.
This incident follows the recent termination of another DOJ employee, Sean Charles Dunn, accused of launching a sandwich at a federal officer and verbally attacking law enforcement. Dunn was charged with misdemeanor assault after a grand jury declined to indict him on felony counts. Bondi frames both dismissals as necessary steps to restore accountability at the DOJ. She remarked, “This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ.”
The timing of these firings coincides with President Trump’s federal law-and-order initiative in the nation’s capital. Earlier this month, Trump exercised his authority under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. Additionally, he activated the National Guard to assist in maintaining order.
Bondi has publicly cited significant results from these efforts, including over 1,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 100 illegal firearms, alongside a noted decrease in violent crime across Washington. This proactive enforcement has included public acknowledgments from Trump and officials like Bondi, who have extended gratitude to law enforcement and National Guard members for their service. A recent dinner hosted for them featured pizza and hamburgers, further illustrating the administration’s support for those on the front lines.
This series of events reflects a broader narrative within the DOJ under Bondi’s leadership, demonstrating a commitment to both restoring integrity and holding individuals accountable for behavior that undermines the department’s mission.
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