Chad Mizelle to leave as DOJ chief of staff
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Chad Mizelle will leave as chief of staff at the Department of Justice in the next few weeks to return to his family in Tampa, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Mizelle, a key ally of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, told us he'll continue to support the Trump administration's work, and plans to continue "exposing the left-wing groups responsible for violence across America."
- His wife, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, is a U.S. District judge in Tampa.
The backstory: Mizelle was named DOJ chief of staff by President Trump in December. Mizelle worked on the transition and began serving on Inauguration Day as both chief of staff and acting associate attorney general, making him the top adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DOJ's third-highest-ranking official.
- Mizelle has worked closely with Bondi to reverse Biden-era policies, and fire officials accused by the Trump administration of politicizing the department under President Biden.
- Trump's DOJ has won 21 victories at the Supreme Court over the past eight months, overturning district court judges.
Mizelle oversees the Civil Division and Civil Rights Division — key engines of defending and advancing Trump's agenda.
- Stephen Miller told Axios: "Chad Mizelle has been instrumental in delivering on President Trump's historic America First Agenda and producing momentous legal victories over and over again."
- Earlier, Mizelle was chief legal officer at Affinity Partners, the private-equity fund run by Jared Kushner.
What they're saying: Bondi says Mizelle "served this Department with professionalism, sound judgment, and dedication. As Chief of Staff, Chad played a central role in coordinating the Department's operations, ensuring its resources were aligned and our efforts were carried out with integrity and efficiency. His counsel strengthened our work to advance justice and protect the American people. I am grateful for his service and friendship."
- Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general, said: "Chad's tenure at the Department has been marked by exceptional leadership and dedication to the Department. He provided Attorney General Bondi and all of us with outstanding counsel, and his steady hand helped guide our work. Chad played a key role in advancing the President's America First agenda here at the Department, and his efforts strengthened our mission to protect the American people."
