According to latest media reports:

“Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired one of the top career officials tasked with advising her and other senior Justice Department officials of their ethical obligations, an official familiar with the dismissal confirmed to ABC News Monday.

Joseph Tirrell on Monday took to LinkedIn to post news of his termination, including a photo of his termination notice which provided no reasoning for his firing”

This is Nixon 2.0 by the book.

As the Watergate invesitigation closed in on Nixon, he took to firing officials involved with the investigation.

Nixon fired two high-ranking officials in the “Saturday Night Massacre”: Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus. Nixon also ordered the firing of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, but Richardson resigned rather than carry out the order. Ruckelshaus also resigned, and the order to fire Cox was ultimately carried out by Solicitor General Robert Bork. Additionally, Nixon forced the resignations of Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, Domestic Affairs Advisor John Ehrlichman, and White House Counsel John Dean.

In the recent firing of Joseph Tirrell issues surrounding his signing off of $140k of free (pro bono) legal work given to Jack Smith.

The Department of Justice (DOJ’s) Ethics Office, which Tirrell was director of, advises employees of the rules governing financial disclosures, conflicts of interest and instances mandating recusal, among others.

Having received $140k of free (pro bono) legal work, the matter was reviewed and signed off by Tirrell as within ethical compliance parameters.

A key issue arose after former Special Counsel Jack Smith disclosed that he had received $140,000 worth of pro bono (free) legal services from the law firm Covington & Burling. This disclosure, made upon his resignation from the Justice Department, sparked controversy and criticism from some individuals and organizations.

Some critics raised concerns about the legality and ethics of a prominent law firm providing such a substantial “gift” to a top DOJ official, particularly given Covington & Burling’s traditional ties to government agencies and the fact that firms sometimes have business before the DOJ. They questioned whether this arrangement violated federal regulations prohibiting officials like Smith from accepting or soliciting gifts.

However, the Justice Department, under Tirerell as director, reportedly approved the arrangement, citing an Office of Government Ethics regulation allowing government employees to receive pro bono legal services if the work is related to their official position or a presidential campaign/transition team. These arrangements, according to the rule, must be approved by an agency ethics official and reported on an employee’s financial disclosure.

The controversy intensified after Donald Trump, upon returning to office, ordered the suspension of security clearances for lawyers at Covington & Burling who had advised Smith. This move was seen by some as an act of retribution against those involved in investigations that had targeted Trump.

The law firm, in a statement, affirmed that they represented Smith in his personal capacity after it became apparent that he would be subject to a government investigation, highlighting their tradition of representing clients facing government investigations.

The issue surrounding this disclosure is multifaceted.

Ethics Concerns:

Critics, including Sean Davis of The Federalist, questioned the legality and ethics of a law firm with business before the Department of Justice providing such a substantial “gift” to a top DOJ official. Federal regulations generally prohibit officials from accepting or soliciting gifts from prohibited sources unless an exception applies.

Potential for Undue Influence:

Some raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Covington & Burling’s strong ties to government agencies and the fact that several former high-ranking DOJ officials, including former Attorney General Eric Holder, are associated with the firm.

Trump Administration Response:

The Trump administration responded strongly, ordering the suspension of security clearances for lawyers at Covington who advised Smith, and directing agencies to review contracts with the firm.

DOJ Approval:

The Justice Department apparently approved Smith’s request under a regulation that allows government employees to accept free legal services if related to their official position or a position on a presidential campaign or transition team, provided the arrangement is cleared by an ethics official and disclosed.

Reasons for Seeking Legal Services:

It’s suggested that Smith sought outside legal counsel to prepare for potential investigations and legal actions by allies of former President Trump, who had repeatedly attacked Smith and vowed investigations.

Covington’s Statement:

Covington stated they agreed to represent Smith when it became apparent he would be the subject of a government investigation, acting as defense counsel in his personal capacity.

Ongoing Scrutiny:

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s administration has continued to scrutinize Smith and those who worked on the Trump investigations, forming a “Weaponization Working Group” and even firing a top Justice Department ethics official who approved the gift.

In essence, the issue revolves around the perception of a top DOJ official accepting a significant “gift” of legal services from a firm with deep government ties, raising questions about ethics, potential conflicts of interest, and the impartiality of the Justice Department, particularly in the context of the politically charged Trump investigations.

Attorney General Pam Bondi fires top Justice Department ethics official