Janice R. Andrews
A White House representative tasked with ensuring loyalty to former President Trump at the Justice Department has been transferred following tensions with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership team.
Paul Ingrassia, who served as Trump’s DOJ liaison, has been reassigned to the Department of Homeland Security after clashing with Bondi’s chief of staff Chad Mizelle. Sources told ABC News that Ingrassia had pushed to install officials strongly aligned with Trump’s agenda and personally complained to Trump about Mizelle, accusing him of hindering administration objectives.
The conflict centered on staffing decisions, with Ingrassia reportedly insisting that DOJ positions should be reserved exclusively for Trump loyalists. He allegedly claimed that anyone who had worked under previous Attorneys General Merrick Garland or Bill Barr should be considered unqualified. His controversial recommendations included advocating for attorney John Pierce, who represented January 6 defendants, to lead the department’s pardon office.
Despite the reassignment, the White House maintains that DOJ staffing efforts remain consistent with Trump’s agenda. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields dismissed reports of internal conflict, stating that everyone is working as “one unified team to staff the DOJ with patriots committed to Making America Safe Again.”
The situation highlights ongoing power dynamics within Trump’s administration as it works to reshape the Justice Department. While Ingrassia has been removed from DOJ, his transfer to Homeland Security suggests he continues to play a significant role in the administration’s federal staffing strategy.
