Paralegal fired after allegedly giving obscene gesture to Trump’s guard troops

DoJ paralegal accused of obscene taunts at guard troops is fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has sacked a Justice Department employee accused of repeatedly making obscene gestures toward members of the National Guard deployed in Washington D.C.

In a memo dated Friday, Bondi confirmed the immediate dismissal of Elizabeth Baxter, a paralegal specialist with the Environment and Natural Resources Division. The Justice Department verified the authenticity of the memo, which stated plainly: “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 allegations against Baxter centre on claims she flipped off armed Guard members and shouted at them on multiple occasions over a two-week period. A Justice Department official told reporters that Baxter was “seen and heard” directing vulgar behaviour towards troops, though the incidents have not been independently verified by NBC News.

The case has quickly drawn national attention, both for its brazenness and the swiftness of Bondi’s response. Armed National Guard units remain stationed around federal landmarks in Washington as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce crime in the city. While official statistics show crime already trending downward before the deployment, Trump has heralded the operation as proof of his hardline stance on law and order.

Bondi has leaned heavily on that same messaging. A Justice Department spokesperson, Gates McGavick, praised the firing in a social media post, bluntly stating: “If you don’t support law enforcement, [Attorney General Pam Bondi’s] DOJ might not be a good fit.”

This marks the second time in a matter of weeks that Bondi has removed a DOJ employee for alleged misconduct directed at law enforcement. Earlier this month, she dismissed Sean Dunn, another paralegal, after he was caught on video throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer near a nightlife area in D.C.

In that instance, Bondi initially sought felony charges, but a grand jury refused to indict. The case was eventually scaled down to a misdemeanor assault charge by U.S. District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Bondi still used the opportunity to issue a stark warning to DOJ staff, writing: “You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement.”

The pattern reflects Bondi’s uncompromising approach to discipline within the department, particularly when it involves behaviour directed at uniformed personnel. She has positioned her leadership as a defence of Trump’s broader anti-crime operation in Washington, even as Democrats and D.C. residents voice growing opposition.

Critics have described the National Guard presence as unnecessary and politically motivated, accusing the administration of using military force as a scare tactic in predominantly Black neighbourhoods. They argue that crime in the district was already falling, and that the heavily armed patrols have created an atmosphere of intimidation rather than safety.

For Bondi, however, the message remains consistent: respect for law enforcement is a non-negotiable condition of employment at the Department of Justice. Whether defending the presence of armed troops on the National Mall or firing staffers accused of insults and assaults, she has repeatedly framed these incidents as a matter of principle.

Baxter has not yet issued a public statement about her dismissal. As it stands, her firing underscores the increasingly hard line the Attorney General is taking within the department, reflecting both loyalty to Trump’s agenda and her own reputation as a staunch enforcer.