NEED TO KNOW
- Pam Bondi fired Department of Justice (DOJ) staffer Elizabeth Baxter for flipping off and cursing at a member of the National Guard
- The attorney general fired the paralegal specialist on Aug. 29 for “inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members,” according to Baxter’s termination letter
- The move comes amid heightened law enforcement presence in D.C. at Donald Trump’s request, and after Bondi fired another DOJ staffer for throwing a sandwich at a federal officer
Attorney General Pam Bondi fired a Department of Justice (DOJ) employee for reportedly flipping off and cursing at a member of the National Guard.
Bondi, 59, fired Elizabeth Baxter on Friday, Aug. 29, according to the New York Post, which obtained the termination letter. The firing came after Baxter — a paralegal specialist in the DOJ’s Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division — flipped off a National Guard member on her way to work in Washington, D.C., per the outlet.
The incident, which comes amid heightened law enforcement presence in the capital city at the request of President Donald Trump, occurred on Aug. 18, with Baxter informing a security guard of the interaction as she arrived at work at the DOJ’s 4CON office building, per the Post.
According to the outlet, Baxter “boasted” to the security guard, recalling how she flipped off the guardsman, who was stationed at the city’s Metro Center station. Baxter also told the guardsman, “F— the National Guard,” the outlet reported, citing Bondi.
Baxter could be seen demonstrating how she put up her finger, according to surveillance footage of the DOJ security guard’s desk, which was obtained by the Post.
Hours later, Baxter expressed similar sentiments, with security video at the DOJ office showing her raising a middle finger and saying “F— you,” gestures once again directed at the National Guard, per the Post.
According to the outlet, Baxter also expressed similar sentiments a week later, once again telling a security guard at the office that she hates the National Guard and told them to “F— off!”
Bondi fired Baxter through a termination letter issued on the evening of Aug. 29. The termination came after an internal investigation involving multiple witnesses, per the Post.
“Pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States and based on your inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members, your employment with the Department of Justice is hereby terminated, and you are removed from federal service effective immediately,” the letter, obtained by the Post, states.
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The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, and Baxter could not immediately be reached, on Saturday, Aug. 30.
“Today, I took action to terminate a DOJ employee for inappropriate conduct towards National Guard service members in DC,” Bondi said in a statement to the Post. “This DOJ remains committed to defending President Trump’s agenda and fighting to make America safe again. If you oppose our mission and disrespect law enforcement — you will NO LONGER work at DOJ.”
The latest firing comes after Bondi made headlines for firing another DOJ employee earlier this month after he allegedly threw a Subway sandwich at a federal officer. Along with the termination, the employee, D.C. resident Sean Dunn, was also charged with felony assault.
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