{"url":"https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/","title":"DOJ Staff Trashes Bondi's Portrait After Firing","domain":"thedailybeast.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6281031/pexels-photo-6281031.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"trashed portrait office","category":"Politics","language":"en","slug":"c494718c","id":"c494718c-f3bc-4a47-97de-66151034a150","description":"DOJ staff trashed Pam Bondi's portrait right after Trump fired her as attorney general.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- DOJ staff trashed Pam Bondi's portrait right after Trump fired her as attorney general.\n- The act is seen as revenge for Bondi removing prior officials' portraits and demoting staff early in Trump's second term.\n- It highlights deep tensions between career DOJ officials and Trump's appointees.\n\n## The story at a glance\nJustice Department staffers quickly removed and discarded a portrait of outgoing Attorney General **Pam Bondi** after President **Donald Trump** fired her on Wednesday. Bondi served 14 months amid controversy, including staff purges and claims she weaponized the department. The move followed news of her dismissal and echoes her own early actions removing portraits of Biden, Harris, and Garland.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)[[2]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff)\n\n## Key points\n- Trump fired Bondi, 60, during a limousine ride to the Supreme Court, telling her “I think it’s time”; she asked to stay until summer but was denied.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- Bondi stays through month's end before a private sector job; her portrait was photographed in a trash bin by MS NOW and posted on X.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- During her tenure, nonpartisan officials left, accusing her of violating court orders, endangering security, and weakening anti-corruption work.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- Early on, Bondi took down portraits of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Merrick Garland, and demoted acting chief Devin DeBacker of the National Security Division.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- A former national security official said of Bondi: “They better take her picture down.”[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- This mirrors Trump's recent firing of Kristi Noem, whose portraits were removed from Customs and Border Protection.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n\n## Details and context\nThe portrait trashing is viewed as symbolic payback by career staff who resented Bondi's aggressive changes at the start of Trump's second term. She reportedly purged prosecutors who called Jan. 6 a \"mob riot\" and issued ultimatums to align with administration goals or leave.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n\nBondi got emotional when telling friends and colleagues about her exit, per reports. Her firing came amid broader frustrations, like handling of Epstein files, though the article focuses on internal DOJ animosity.[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n\n## Key quotes\n- Trump to Bondi: “**I think it’s time**.” (Reported by *The Wall Street Journal*).[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n- Former national security official to MS NOW: “**They better take her picture down**.”[[1]](https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/)\n\n## Why it matters\nCareer civil servants' bold snub shows how Trump's appointees have alienated DOJ's nonpartisan core, risking long-term morale and independence. For officials and staff, it signals potential instability in leadership transitions and ongoing purges. Watch Trump's next AG pick and if Senate confirms, as resistance from figures like Sen. Thom Tillis could delay stability.","hashtags":["#trump","#doj","#pam-bondi","#politics","#justice-department","#trump-administration"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-brutal-parting-gift-from-justice-department-staff/","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-06T01:37:27.437Z"}