The Morning Sixpack - July 17, 2025

DOJ purges, Bongino’s Epstein clash, Biden autopen drama, Trump’s judge pick Bove, and Gaza church strike fuel fierce political firestorm.

DOJ Fires Epstein Prosecutor Maurene Comey

Yes, that Comey.

Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey—who helped take down Ghislaine Maxwell and prosecuted Diddy—was abruptly fired Wednesday with zero explanation.

Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, was escorted out of her office just hours after receiving a termination letter signed by a Trump-appointed DOJ official. The letter gave no justification, merely citing the president’s constitutional authority. Let that sink in: One of the top prosecutors in some of the nation’s most sensitive cases was shown the door without a word of cause.

Comey had worked for nearly a decade in the Southern District of New York, handling the explosive Epstein and Maxwell prosecutions and most recently the high-profile Diddy trial. She was a mentor to many and had a reputation for professionalism and tenacity. And now? Gone, without a trace of official reasoning.

This reeks of political score-settling, plain and simple.

The timing isn’t subtle. DOJ leadership, now under Trump ally Pam Bondi, has been on a purge streak—firing those who dared work on prosecutions tied to Trump or his orbit. This includes 20 other DOJ employees and even Bondi’s own ethics lawyer. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories about Epstein’s alleged “client list” are being inflamed by Trump loyalists-turned-officials like Kash Patel and Dan Bongino—who now run the FBI. These are not coincidences.

Source: Washington Post

I’m wondering if this was a smart move by Trump… Could Comey now come at him? She knows more than just about anybody what’s in the Epstein data.

Bongino vs. Bondi: Epstein Fallout Erupts Inside Trump’s DOJ as MAGA Turns on Itself

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino nearly resigned over the DOJ’s handling of Epstein documents—triggering a MAGA meltdown and a battle for Trump’s favor.

The Epstein file fiasco has ignited a public civil war inside the Trump administration—and at the center is Dan Bongino, MAGA media heavyweight turned FBI No. 2. After the DOJ issued a memo effectively closing the Epstein case and denying the existence of a “client list,” Bongino reportedly blew a gasket and flirted with quitting. He hasn’t posted on X in nearly a week. That’s like a NASCAR driver walking away from the track mid-race.

To Trump’s base, Bongino isn’t just a government suit—he’s one of them. A former cop, failed congressional candidate, and podcast pundit who made his name ranting about Epstein, election fraud, and “deep state” pipe bombs, Bongino’s appointment was seen as a symbolic win for the populist right. When he gets sidelined or silenced, it’s not just drama—it’s betrayal. “Dan is a brand of MAGA that is fiercely loyal to the president,” said one insider. And that loyalty has built a 7-million-strong echo chamber on X.

Attorney General Pam Bondi—no stranger to Trumpworld herself—is catching hell from the base. She promised transparency on Epstein, but when the memo dropped without any bombshells, things got ugly. Trump backers accused her of a cover-up.

Epstein Files is Getting HOT

Megyn Kelly threw down the gauntlet with a now-viral post: “It’s Bongino or Bondi—and the pick is obvious. Bondi must go.”

The White House is trying to play both sides, but make no mistake—this is a loyalty test with a very online jury.

What’s making this mess even messier? Trump himself. He’s reportedly tired of the Epstein saga sucking up oxygen when he’d rather be talking tax cuts or dunking on Democrats. But the problem is, the people keeping the Epstein fire alive are his own appointees—Bongino, VP J.D. Vance, and a whole MAGA media machine that built itself off conspiracy breadcrumbs and deep state paranoia. The base now demands blood. And Bondi might be the sacrificial lamb.

If Bongino walks—or even continues to ghost his followers—the damage could ripple. As one Trump operative put it, “It’s less about Bongino specifically and more about the broader symbolism him leaving would represent.”

Translation: If Bongino bails, it signals the Trump administration isn’t just censoring dissent. It’s turning on the very people who made it possible.

Source: The Hill

Guy Investigating Biden’s Use of “Autopen” Used Autopen to Deliver Subpoenas

House Oversight Chair James Comer’s digital signature flap is a masterclass in hypocrisy.

Comer, who has spent months targeting the Biden administration for using digital signatures, is now quietly using the same exact practice—autopen and digital signatures—for his own official subpoenas. It’s not just a minor detail; it’s the same tool he loudly condemned when Biden did it. That’s what you call talking out of both sides of your mouth, a familiar practice amongst MAGA pols.

A spokeswoman for the House Oversight Committee admitted that Comer routinely uses digital signatures on subpoenas and correspondence, asserting they’re “legally binding” and “approved.” So while Comer throws stones accusing Biden of cutting corners, he’s busy signing off documents with the very method he publicly disparages. The irony? Thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Comer using an autopen to investigate an autopen is just so James. That’s what we love about him, his attention to detail,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said sarcastically.

This isn’t about partisan nitpicking. It’s about accountability and the selective outrage that corrodes public trust. Comer’s critics rightly point out that if you want to call out a practice, you better not be doing it yourself. But here we are, witnessing the classic political double standard in action.

At the end of the day, it’s about transparency and honesty—qualities that seem in short supply when it suits MAGA political theater. Comer’s digital signature drama is a perfect example of how convenient principles can be when wielded as weapons rather than standards.

Source: NBC News

Trump’s Emil Bove: DOJ Power Player on Track for Lifetime Judicial Seat Despite Ethics Storm

Emil Bove, the DOJ lawyer at the heart of controversial Trump prosecutions, is cruising toward a lifetime appointment on the Third Circuit—while critics warn he’d weaponize the judiciary for political ends.

At just 44, Bove has made a name firing career prosecutors tied to Trump investigations and pushing aggressive DOJ tactics that ruffle feathers across the political spectrum. Now, the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on confirming him as a federal appellate judge, a lifetime gig that could shape U.S. law for decades. President Trump himself has endorsed Bove as a loyal warrior ready to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

But 900 former DOJ lawyers and more than 75 retired judges from both parties have raised alarms, warning that Bove’s fierce political loyalty threatens the independence of the courts.

Whistleblower Erez Reuveni alleges Bove even encouraged DOJ attorneys to defy court orders—a claim backed by texts and emails. Bove denies telling subordinates to disobey judges but curiously “does not recall” certain incriminating statements, a dodge that rings alarm bells for legal veterans like David Laufman.

Laufman calls Bove a “wrecking ball” to DOJ norms who would likely rubber-stamp administration priorities from the bench, potentially harming the rule of law nationwide.

Old Fart Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, however, dismisses these concerns, labeling the whistleblower’s timing as politically motivated and pushing hard for a party-line confirmation.

The debate isn’t just about one man—it’s a proxy battle over whether the DOJ and judiciary will serve justice or politics. We know Trump’s answer.

As Bove’s nomination advances, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Confirming him risks cementing a partisan grip on courts that should be impartial, while rejecting him would trigger an all-out fight over the future of American law enforcement and judicial integrity. As it should.

Source: NPR

Two Dead and Priest Injured in Apparent Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Only Catholic Church Shelter

An Israeli tank reportedly struck Gaza’s Holy Family Church, killing two and seriously injuring several—including Father Gabriel Romanelli, as hundreds of displaced families took refuge inside.

The Holy Family Church, Gaza’s sole Catholic sanctuary temporarily housing some 600 displaced people, mostly children and those with special needs, was hit in what the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem calls an “apparent strike by the Israeli army.”

Four people were seriously wounded, with two in critical condition, and the local Argentine priest was injured but expected to recover.

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow and renewed calls for an immediate cease-fire, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack as “unacceptable.” The Latin Patriarchate called targeting innocent civilians “barbaric” and unjustifiable. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told Vatican News, “What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF says by mistake, but we are not sure about this, they hit the Church directly.”

The BBC documented visible damage, including a shattered roof and windows, highlighting that places of worship, traditionally considered sanctuaries in conflict, are not immune to harm—even as the Israeli military had ordered evacuations from the area.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed awareness of the incident and said they are reviewing the circumstances. This attack adds to a troubling pattern of civilian casualties, following recent strikes blamed on “technical errors” that killed children and vulnerable Palestinians.

The State of Israel is corrupt and Netanyahu and his goons are war criminals.

Source: UPI

Trump Blasts His Own Base as “Duped” Over Epstein Files, Calls Investigation a “Hoax”

President Trump is turning on his supporters, accusing them of falling for a “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” pushed by Democrats—and warning he no longer wants their backing.

In a rare and fiery break with his own MAGA crowd, Trump slammed longtime followers on Truth Social, calling their obsession with the Epstein case “bullshit, hook, line, and sinker.”

He accused them of being “conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years” and told them to stop “doing the Democrats’ work” by focusing on the Epstein investigation instead of his administration’s “incredible and unprecedented success.”

The split exposes deep frustration within Trump’s camp over the DOJ’s refusal to release more Epstein documents, despite earlier promises by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump insists Bondi has done everything possible and dismisses ongoing demands as a distraction from his accomplishments.

“It’s all been a big hoax,” he said bluntly, blaming Democrats and “some stupid Republicans” for keeping the controversy alive.

Still, many pro-Trump influencers remain unsatisfied. Far-right podcaster Alex Jones called Trump’s handling “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen,” while others like Benny Johnson and Michael Flynn urged the former president to mend fences with his base and restore trust.

Even Turning Point USA’s chief nut licker Charlie Kirk admitted the messaging “is not landing well” with younger supporters.

This infighting matters because Trump’s strength depends on a united, energized base—especially with the 2026 midterms on the horizon. Polls show half of Americans are unhappy with how much the government has shared on Epstein, and Democrats warn the controversy feeds a broader narrative of GOP ties to the powerful and corrupt, risking voter alienation.

Source: AP News

Fact check: Trump tells fictional story about his uncle and the Unabomber

Trump is a loser. Y’all following him are… worse than losers.