The US Department of Justice fired an employee on Friday (August 29) for making obscene gestures at National Guard members stationed in Washington, DC during work hours.
According to a memo revealed by the New York Post, the employee, Elizabeth Baxter, worked as a legal assistant in the Department of Justice’s Environmental Protection Division.
In the memo, Attorney General Pam Bondi informed the employee, “Considering your inappropriate behavior towards the National Guard members, we are terminating your employment with the Department of Justice, effective immediately.”
Department of Justice spokesperson Chad Gilmartin shared this information on social media platform X and confirmed the reports. Another spokesperson, Gates McGarvick, also reposted the message and wrote, “The logic is simple: if you do not support law enforcement, the Department of Justice under Bondi’s leadership may not be the right fit for you.”
According to the New York Post, the employee displayed a middle finger gesture towards National Guard members on August 18 and verbally abused them, further denigrating the National Guard afterward.
This month, President Donald Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard members to patrol the streets of Washington, DC, declaring a state of emergency to combat crime, and temporarily taking control of the city’s police department.
The Joint Task Force-DC announced on Wednesday that during President Trump’s federal law enforcement operation, violent crime in the district dropped by nearly 60% in just one week.
Based on data shared by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) through JTF-DC, as of Wednesday, carjacking cases decreased by 60%, robberies decreased by 56%, and overall violent crime rate declined by 58% compared to the same period last year.
The office of Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia responded on Wednesday that the city’s violent crime rate had decreased by 45% compared to the previous year and 27% since the start of the federal reinforcement operation, acknowledging the effectiveness of the federal law enforcement reinforcements commanded by President Trump.
Many Democrats, however, criticized President Trump’s exercise of presidential authority over the city. Several Democratic city council members accused Bowser of making conciliatory remarks, criticizing her portrayal of the federal law enforcement operation as beneficial.
President Trump had previously ordered the deployment of Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June, and announced plans to send troops and federal officials to Chicago.
(This article referenced reporting from Reuters)