Legal Showdown: Fired DOJ Officials Challenge Terminations
In a dramatic turn of events, at least three former officials from the Justice Department who played roles in the January 6 prosecutions and investigations into Trump are taking legal action against Attorney General Pam Bondi and the DOJ following their dismissals.
Michael Gordon, a former prosecutor from the January 6 investigation, communications aide Patty Hartman, and ethics official Joseph Tirrell have initiated a lawsuit against Trump’s DOJ. They’ve enlisted the services of a trio of prominent attorneys—Norm Eisen, known for his involvement in numerous lawsuits against Trump; Abbe Lowell, who represents Hunter Biden; and Mark Zaid, who defended the whistleblower from the Ukraine impeachment scandal.
This legal action follows a sweeping dismissal earlier this month, in which Bondi terminated 20 DOJ officials connected to the January 6 incident and the investigation into Trump’s documents.
Among those dismissed was top ethics official Joseph Tirrell. In a heartfelt statement shared on his LinkedIn account, Tirrell reflected on his career and his commitment to public service:
“Until Friday evening, I was the senior ethics attorney at the Department of Justice, advising the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General directly on federal employee ethics. I oversaw a dedicated team responsible for ensuring that the Department’s 117,000 employees adhered to federal ethics rules.”
“My public service journey spans over 25 years, beginning as a United States Naval Officer and culminating in my promotion to the Senior Executive Service this year. I have taken the oath to uphold the Constitution multiple times, and I believe it is my duty to support it, regardless of the challenges.”
Tirrell also expressed gratitude for the support he received during this tumultuous time, urging others to continue serving their country.
The lawsuit contends that the plaintiffs were dismissed without cause and without prior written notice, claiming that their rights under the Fifth Amendment were violated.
According to the complaint, “In disregarding established statutory and regulatory protections regarding civil service terminations, Attorney General Pam Bondi notified the plaintiffs of their removal via brief memoranda, citing Article II of the U.S. Constitution without providing any justification or due process.”
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to contest their terminations.
JUST IN: Former Jan. 6 prosecutor Michael Gordon and press aide Patty Hartman have filed suit against Pam Bondi over their dismissals from the DOJ.
Their attorney: Abbe Lowellhttps://t.co/QgwlIfcnwX pic.twitter.com/aJqwPxWfKp
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 25, 2025
