By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Joseph Tirrell, the head of the justice department’s ethics office, was fired on Friday by Attorney General Pam Bondi, with the termination letter lacking a reason for dismissal. Tirrell, who oversaw a team ensuring ethical guidelines were followed, was responsible for reviewing financial disclosures of top officials. The firing is part of a series of dismissals targeting civil servants, coinciding with actions against those connected to the investigation into Donald Trump. It is unclear if the dismissal is related to the January 6-related terminations, though Tirrell had previously signed off on legal services provided to Jack Smith.
Read the original article here
Pam Bondi fires US justice department’s top ethics adviser. Well, that’s not exactly a shocker, is it? Honestly, it feels less like news and more like a confirmation of everything we’ve come to expect. It’s like when you know the sky is blue, but then you look up and, yep, it’s still blue. The fact that Joseph Tirrell, the head of the justice department’s ethics office, got the boot, and with such a dismissive note, really hammers home the point.
This whole situation is just a symptom of a larger disease. Firing someone who’s supposed to advise on ethics? It’s like the administration actively *doesn’t* want to be ethical. It’s as though ethics were some sort of annoying speed bump they’d rather bulldoze over. Why keep paying someone to do a job that conflicts with your modus operandi? It makes you wonder how anyone could even advise such an administration on ethics in the first place! The whole scenario is just… bizarre.
The lack of surprise here isn’t just due to the administration’s general reputation. Apparently, the reason for his termination wasn’t even provided, as is often par for the course for such situations. That just adds another layer of insult, doesn’t it? It makes the message loud and clear: “Ethics? We don’t need no stinking ethics!” It’s like they’re running on a different set of rules, one where accountability and transparency are optional extras, not baseline requirements.
We’re talking about a regime where the lines between right and wrong seem to have vanished. It is worth remembering the context here, this administration is not just about cutting costs, or “draining the swamp,” it’s about consolidation and control. It’s about an attempt to establish a unitary executive, basically an autocracy with Trump at the helm. This involves neutralizing any opposition, and that includes anyone who might, heaven forbid, *remind* them of ethical obligations.
The firing of Tirrell seems to be part of this bigger plan. If you’re trying to build an autocracy, the last thing you need is an ethics advisor, and that’s particularly true if the administration in question is already connected to investigations and legal proceedings. Instead of merit, loyalty is the name of the game. This is not about streamlining government; it’s about seizing control and expanding power.
The consequences are pretty disturbing. This isn’t just about one person losing their job. It’s about systematically dismantling any semblance of oversight and accountability. Federal judges are being intimidated, while the Supreme Court is handing the administration one win after another, further solidifying the power of the regime. It’s a playbook straight out of the autocrat’s guide, and it’s being followed to the letter.
In the end, what is there to say? That Bondi, and the administration, did what was expected of them. That ethics and this administration, at this point, are mutually exclusive. It’s the definition of “on brand” for an administration that operates in a world of its own making. It’s sad, it’s infuriating, and it’s something we’re likely going to be seeing a lot more of.