Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired more than 20 Department of Justice employees who were involved in investigating the January 6 protest and the case regarding President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents, according to a new report.

On Friday, at least 20 employees from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team were let go, including two prosecutors, seven support staff members, and U.S. Marshals, according to reports from Reuters and Axios.

Per Axios:

The firings are part of a massive purge aimed at clearing DOJ of attorneys and support staff who took part in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump for Jan. 6 and possessing classified documents unlawfully.

The new dismissals bring the total Smith-related firings to about 35.

About 15 more could face termination.

Reuters reported Friday night that nine staffers had been let go, but Axios sources said the number was 20 and as many as 37 people could ultimately be let go from offices in Washington, Virginia, Florida and other parts of the country.

The terminations resulted from the DOJ’s “Weaponization Working Group” investigation.

“We’re reviewing and making sure,” an unidentified administration official reportedly told the outlet. “Some of these people were burrowed deep, and we’re finding them and making a determination.”

The firings were allegedly supposed to happen earlier in the week, but got put on hold as the department faced fallout from the mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Meanwhile, at the State Department, more than 1,300 employees were laid off on Friday as part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at reducing waste and eliminating redundancy.

The layoffs, which began on Friday, resulted in the elimination of 1,107 civil service worker positions and 246 foreign service officer positions, according to internal notices obtained by multiple outlets.

DRAINING THE SWAMP: Laid Off Staffers Filmed Crying as State Department Cuts Over 1,300 Bureaucrats (VIDEOS)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the layoffs will make the department “more efficient and more focused.”

“It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions,” Rubio said while speaking to the press on Thursday. “Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people.”

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In a candid interview with BBC Ukraine, Czech President Petr Pavel, a former general with decades of military experience, offered a pragmatic assessment of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Pavel emphasized the need for diplomatic pressure and negotiation to achieve a sustainable resolution.

Pavel, who assumed office in early 2023 after a career dedicated to the Czech armed force, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. His recent remarks signal a shift towards a conservative approach focused on minimizing human and economic costs.

Pavel’s perspective comes amid stalled Ukrainian counteroffensives and mounting international fatigue. Reflecting on the conflict’s trajectory, he acknowledged Russia’s limited tactical victories, such as the occupation of certain territories, but highlighted the exorbitant price Moscow has paid in lives and resources.

“Russia has several tactical successes. They managed to seize some parts of Ukrainian territory, but their advance is worth great sacrifices and losses,” Pavel said. “I think this is a very, very high price for land grabbing.”

He praised Ukraine’s defensive efforts, noting their effectiveness in inflicting heavy damage on Russian forces and holding strategic positions.

However, Pavel warned that prolonging the war in its current state could extend for an indefinite period, a outcome he deemed unacceptable. “If the war continues in the same spirit, it will last for years, he stated, adding that such a scenario benefits no one.

Central to Pavel’s strategy is a balanced Western response. He supports the continued bolstering of Ukraine’s defenses to demonstrate that Russia cannot prevail militarily, while ramping up non-lethal pressures to push Moscow toward talks, so that “[Russia] understands that solutions can be found only at the negotiating table”.

Pavel expressed confidence in the combined economic might of the United States and Europe as the most potent weapon against Russian aggression. He predicted that Russia’s economy, already strained, would buckle under intensified sanctions, compelling it to negotiate sooner rather than later.

The Czech leader was forthright about the harsh realities facing Ukraine, arguing against demands for a hasty full liberation of occupied lands which could inflict significant human casualties. “We do not want to exterminate the Ukrainian people,” Pavel explained.

Pavel suggested that a viable path might involve accepting temporary occupation of some areas without granting legal legitimacy to Russia’s claims.

Endless conflict, he cautioned, would only lead to devastating losses for all involved, including economic burdens on Western nations. Instead, he advocated for a sequenced approach: force Russia to the table, establish a ceasefire, and negotiate a peace deal, paving the way for Ukraine’s reconstruction and potential future discussions on normalizing relations with Russia.

Looking towards global leadership, Pavel voiced optimism about U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to broker talks. “I think Donald Trump will do everything possible to force both sides to sit down at the negotiating table,” he said.

Pavel’s comments reflect a growing chorus among European leaders for a resolution that prioritizes realism and restraint, ensuring Ukraine’s survival without escalating into a protracted drain on resources. As the war enters its fourth year, his call for negotiation remains the surest route to peace.

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President Trump banned a Secret Service agent connected to the Butler assassination attempt from getting anywhere near him, according to RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree.

Trump told his Secret Service detail about his concerns about the unidentified junior agent at a Christmas party for the agents last year.

“As you guys can see, that person is no longer welcome here,” Trump said to the agents at the Christmas party at Mar-a-Lago, according to RCP.

#BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP BANNED A SECRET SERVICE AGENT PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BUTLER FROM GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR HIM.

He informed his entire Secret Service detail of his concerns about the agent during a Christmas Party for the agents late last year at Mar-a-Lago:… pic.twitter.com/BVNhAmmGJw

— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) July 12, 2025

Excerpt from RealClearPolitics:

Still reveling in his political comeback after surviving two near-miss assassination attempts, last December, then-President-elect Trump stopped by the Christmas party of the Secret Service detail that was responsible for both saving his life and the failures that nearly ended it.

Trump, at the time, responded to the mixed feelings in trademark fashion: He regaled the agents gathered for some light-hearted celebration after a turbulent few months but didn’t mince words for one junior agent who was charged with leading security for the Butler and he appeared to hold responsible for some of the most glaring failures.

“As you guys can see, that person is no longer welcome here,” he told the crowd, elaborating that he didn’t want this agent anywhere near him ever again, according to several Secret Service sources familiar with his comments.

Would-be assassin Thomas Crooks was able to climb on top of a roof next to Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania rally and put Trump in his scope.

A bullet grazed President Trump’s ear on July 13, 2024 during his Pennsylvania rally. One rallygoer was fatally struck in the head. Two other rally attendees were wounded, one critically.

This is the full clip.

1- shots on trump
2- ss returns fire
3- you hear “shooter is down”
4- they stand trump up
5- he asks to get his shoes
6- fist pumps and fight

Truly unreal.

pic.twitter.com/bhui8CcNUs

— tyler hogge (@thogge) July 13, 2024

A Secret Service sniper fatally shot Thomas Matthew Crooks after he took several shots at Trump and rallygoers.

Nearly a year later, six USSS personnel were suspended without pay.

EXCLUSIVE: The Secret Service suspended six personnel without pay as the agency faced intense scrutiny after the assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, nearly a year ago.

Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn tells CBS News’ @NicoleSganga… pic.twitter.com/pjqH4V6pGg

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) July 9, 2025

On Thursday the names of the suspended Secret Service agents were revealed.

RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree identified the agents suspended and revealed the key supervisors who signed off on the final security walkthrough on Butler security plan were never disciplined.

“One of those supervisors on the final walkthroughs, Nick Menster, was assigned this year as the No. 2 in charge of the Lara and Eric Trump protective detail. The other, Nick Olszewski, ironically, became the chief (special agent in charge) of the Inspection Division, which is responsible for ensuring the accountability and integrity of the agency’s personnel and operations,” Susan Crabtree said.

Myotsoty Perez – an inexperienced agent (according to Congressional testimony, which did not name her) who was the “site agent” in charge of the security for the rally. She was part of the regular Donald Trump detail and was not chosen for the big outdoor J13 rally, but simply had her “rotation” come up, according to multiple Secret Service sources.

Meredith Bank – a far more experienced agent out of the Pittsburgh Field Office who was serving as the “lead agent” for the day of the rally – overseeing operations from the time then-candidate Trump arrived at the airport to the final departure. She told Congressional investigators that she informed Perez that her supervisor, Nick Menster, would be asking her where the local law enforcement were to be positioned in/on the AGR building. Menster, however, never specifically asked that question, according to the Congressional transcripts.

Dana Dubrey – a mid-level agent in the Pittsburgh Field Office who served as the “site counterpart.”

Tim Burke – the chief (special agent in charge) of the Pittsburgh Field Office.

Brian Pardini – the No. 2 in charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office.

John Marciniak – the Uniformed Division counter sniper who was assigned to the rally late because of the Iranian threat to Trump’s life. Marciniak had just two days, instead of the customary five, to formulate his security plan.

The post WOW! Trump Banned Secret Service Agent Connected to Butler Assassination Attempt From Getting Near Him appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

America’s justice system is once again under scrutiny as the Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, released nearly 11 hours of purportedly “raw” surveillance footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s prison the night before his 2019 death. Intended to quash persistent conspiracy theories about the pedophile financier’s alleged suicide, the video instead reveals troubling signs of post-production editing.

Attorney General Bondi’s pledge for transparency has backfired, as the enhanced and “raw” versions both bear editing traces, dated May 2025 under a user account “MJCOLE~1.” Metadata analyzed by WIRED and forensics experts indicates the footage was manipulated using Adobe Premiere Pro.

The embedded data also suggests that the video is not continuous, unaltered footage exported from a surveillance system, but instead a composite likely assembled from at least two separate MP4 files.

The footage, covering the Special Housing Unit at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center, shows no one entering Epstein’s tier from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., but includes a mysterious one-minute gap and aspect ratio shifts. A 2023 Inspector General report highlighted chronic camera failures and staffing shortages at the now-shuttered facility, attributing Epstein’s death to negligence rather than foul play.

Experts like UC Berkeley’s Hany Farid, who has testified in numerous court cases, warned that such processing undermines courtroom viability, urging a return to original sources without “monkey business.”

Farid and an anonymous forensics expert, who requested anonymity to avoid being associated publicly with anything Epstein, both agree the changes could be benign, like format conversion, but the agencies’ refusal to clarify leaves public concerns unaddressed.

This revelation exposes glaring flaws in the chain of custody for digital evidence, raising red flags about federal handling of high-profile cases involving elite power brokers.

As the nation grows weary of government opacity, the lack of explanation from the DOJ, FBI, and Bureau of Prisons serves only to amplify suspicions of a deliberate cover-up to shield influential figures tied to Epstein’s web.

As Alex Jones decried the release as “sickening,” he casts a light on a broader crisis, federal institutions are failing to deliver accountability in scandals thereby continuing to erode public trust. Ultimately, this botched disclosure demands rigorous reforms to restore integrity, ensuring predators like Epstein face their reckoning.

The post ‘Raw’ Epstein Footage Was Altered appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Donald Trump has revealed that he still has pain in his ear and credits God for his survival as the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt approaches.

Trump reflected on the July 13, 2024, shooting in an interview with Fox News host Will Cain.

The interview was conducted as Trump toured the flood wreckage in Texas.

Cain began, “Mr. President, you have children, you have a daughter, you have grandchildren. We’re approaching one year from you having a very narrow escape from death. Do you think all of this in any way gives you a unique perspective on what’s happening here and what people are experiencing here in Texas?”

“Well, I went through a lot. It was a crazy time, very surreal, actually, if you want to know the truth,” Trump responded.

The president continued, “It’s — I have got this massive crowd of people, and all of a sudden you hear and you feel something that’s very unusual. And I got down quickly. And I was — people were screaming, get down, get down. It was a whole — the whole thing was just crazy. And it’s hard to believe a year is up.”

“And here we are. A lot of things have happened since then, including the presidency. So I have an obligation to do a good job, I feel, because I was really saved, I was really saved by somebody very special.”

“People that are shooters — I’m not so much of a shooter, but people that were shooters say it’s almost impossible that that was a miss,” Trump said. “I mean, it was a hit, but it was a miss. Well, I do get that throbbing feeling every once in a while, you understand.”

“Is that right?” Cain asked.

“Yes, a little bit,” Trump said of the ear pain.

“But, no, I owe a lot,” Trump said. “And I think — I hope the reason I was saved was to save our country. We had a country that was, I don’t say dead because it’s too strong, but we had a country that was really very close to being finished, in my opinion. And now we have the hottest country in the world. That’s why I’m so saddened by this.”

Trump lamented, “But it’s one of those things, those tragic things that happened. But we had a country that was dead. It was dead. It was really in deep trouble.”

A Fox News poll in April found that 70 percent of Trump supporters believe that divine intervention helped secure his return to the White House.

WATCH:

The post WATCH: Trump Reveals Lingering Ear Pain from Assassination Attempt, Credits God for Survival as One-Year Anniversary Nears appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.