Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the firing of another Department of Justice employee after “a series of troubling incidents.” This time, the dismissal involved Elizabeth Baxter, a paralegal in the environmental division, who allegedly “directed obscene gestures at guardsmen” while commuting in Washington, DC. Her termination comes shortly after the firing of paralegal Sean Charles Dunn, whose own misconduct had already raised concerns inside the department.
The back-to-back incidents pushed DOJ leadership to tighten oversight. Baxter’s actions, so soon after Dunn’s, intensified worries about maintaining professionalism in an agency responsible for enforcing federal law.
Bondi said the actions were meant to “protect the integrity of the Justice Department” and emphasized that employees must show respect for law enforcement personnel, especially National Guard members working in high-security areas. She stressed that the decision was not political but a necessary step to reinforce accountability.
Inside the DOJ, staff reactions varied. Some employees viewed the firings as a needed reminder that professionalism applies on and off duty. Others expressed concern about how far the department should go in monitoring personal behavior. Still, the message was clear: leadership is paying attention.
National Guard members did not comment publicly, but internal sources said they appreciated the quick response, noting that many guardsmen have recently faced verbal hostility while protecting federal buildings.
Bondi’s move signals a broader effort to reset expectations within the DOJ. As she underscored, public servants carry responsibility beyond office walls—and violations “will not be ignored.”
