He did not fire "every lawyer in the Justice Department." He fired all of the federal district attorneys who had been appointed by President Bush. That is NOT "all the lawyers in the Justice Department."
It was unprecedented.
yes, but those "other lawyers" at DOJ - work for the US attorneys. that's how you control the moles in the ranks, you make political appointments of their bosses, so you can control them.
c'mon miss marple, I know you are politically saavy, you know the game.