Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the termination of another Department of Justice employee on Friday after an incident involving a member of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. The employee, identified as Elizabeth Baxter, worked as a paralegal specialist in the Justice Department’s Environmental Defense Section and was dismissed following what officials described as inappropriate conduct toward service members.
According to Bondi, the incident occurred on Aug. 18 as Baxter was arriving for work at the Department of Justice’s 4CON building in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington. At approximately 8:21 a.m., Baxter reportedly told a security guard that she had just made an obscene gesture toward a National Guard member at the Metro Center transit station and had used profanity directed at the service member.
Security camera footage from later that day reportedly showed Baxter again directing a gesture toward National Guard personnel and shouting profanity. Bondi said the footage captured Baxter raising her middle finger and yelling at the guardsmen.
The situation escalated further about a week later. On Aug. 25, Baxter allegedly told a Justice Department security guard that she “hated the National Guard” and again used profanity when speaking about them.
After reviewing the incidents and interviewing witnesses, the Justice Department conducted an internal investigation. On Friday evening, Bondi issued a termination letter formally removing Baxter from her role as a GS-0950-11 paralegal specialist within the Environment and Natural Resources Division. The letter stated that her removal from federal service was effective immediately.
In a statement discussing the decision, Bondi emphasized that the department expects employees to maintain professional conduct, particularly when interacting with members of law enforcement and the military. She said the department remains focused on its mission and indicated that behavior deemed disrespectful toward law enforcement would not be tolerated among its staff.
The dismissal follows a separate controversy involving another Justice Department employee who worked in the same building. Earlier this month, paralegal Sean Charles Dunn was arrested following an altercation with federal officers in Washington’s U Street nightlife district.
According to reports, Dunn allegedly shouted insults at officers who had been deployed to the capital and threw a Subway sandwich toward one of them during the Aug. 10 incident. Authorities initially sought felony assault charges against Dunn, but a grand jury declined to indict on that count. Prosecutors later filed a misdemeanor assault charge, which carries a potential sentence of up to one year in jail if he is convicted.
Bondi previously referenced the case when announcing Dunn’s dismissal from the department, stating that employees who disrespect government institutions or law enforcement would not remain in their positions.
While those personnel matters were unfolding, the Justice Department also announced the results of a major criminal investigation unrelated to the incidents in Washington. Officials confirmed the conclusion of Operation Grayskull, a joint effort between the department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation targeting dark web platforms that hosted child sexual abuse material.
The investigation led to the shutdown of four websites used to distribute the illegal content and resulted in numerous arrests and prosecutions across several federal jurisdictions. So far, authorities say the operation has produced 18 convictions, with many defendants receiving lengthy prison sentences.
One of the most significant sentences involved 52-year-old Thomas Peter Katsampes of Eagan, Minnesota. He was sentenced to 250 months in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to advertise and distribute child pornography.
Court documents indicate that Katsampes joined one of the dark web sites in 2022 and later became a moderator, helping enforce site rules and guiding other users on how to share illegal material. Prosecutors said the content included explicit material involving young children.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti said the operation demonstrated that individuals involved in distributing such material would ultimately face consequences. He praised prosecutors and investigators for dismantling the networks and pursuing justice for victims.
