US President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi - a longtime ally and fierce defender of his administration - from her post as America's top law enforcement officer. Trump praised her in a post on Truth Social and said she would be transitioning to a role in the private sector.
Bondi's time leading the justice department was often overshadowed by its handling of the release of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and its investigation into the convicted sex offender. She is the second Trump administration official in recent weeks to be cut from her post, after Kristi Noem was ousted as homeland security chief in March. Bondi will be replaced by her former deputy, Todd Blanche.
Blanche denied US media reports that Bondi's handling of the Epstein files had been a factor in Trump's thinking. As President Trump said today, the attorney general made our country safe again, and she is a friend and did a great job in the first year of this administration, he told Fox News.
Bondi said she would be working tirelessly to transfer her work to Blanche, adding that the job had been the honour of a lifetime. She added that in her new private sector position - which she did not identify - she would continue fighting for President Trump and this administration.
The announcement comes less than two months after a combative congressional hearing in which Bondi was peppered with questions from lawmakers - at times descending into shouting matches in which she called one Democrat a washed-up loser. As recently as Thursday morning, Trump was defending Bondi, saying: She is a wonderful person and she is doing a good job.
But hours later, Trump confirmed her departure on Truth Social, saying that her new private sector role would be announced at a date in the near future.
Trump lauded Bondi's performance as attorney general in his post, saying she had done a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in crime across our country. However, the president had reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi, particularly over her handling of the Epstein files, which had led to Trump's support eroding over months.
Following Bondi's swearing-in in February 2025, she had pledged transparency regarding the Epstein case, promising to release an alleged client list associated with the disgraced financier. The department later claimed no such list existed, ultimately releasing millions of files related to Epstein only under pressure, including from Trump supporters, after Congress passed a law requiring such transparency.
Under Bondi's leadership, the justice department pursued criminal investigations into political opponents of the president, including figures such as California Senator Adam Schiff and former FBI Director James Comey. With Trump's announcement, Bondi becomes the third high-profile member of Trump's cabinet to leave this term.
The relatively intact inner circle of this Trump presidency stands in stark contrast to his first term in office, which was marked by a high turnover of key officials.
Bondi's time leading the justice department was often overshadowed by its handling of the release of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and its investigation into the convicted sex offender. She is the second Trump administration official in recent weeks to be cut from her post, after Kristi Noem was ousted as homeland security chief in March. Bondi will be replaced by her former deputy, Todd Blanche.
Blanche denied US media reports that Bondi's handling of the Epstein files had been a factor in Trump's thinking. As President Trump said today, the attorney general made our country safe again, and she is a friend and did a great job in the first year of this administration, he told Fox News.
Bondi said she would be working tirelessly to transfer her work to Blanche, adding that the job had been the honour of a lifetime. She added that in her new private sector position - which she did not identify - she would continue fighting for President Trump and this administration.
The announcement comes less than two months after a combative congressional hearing in which Bondi was peppered with questions from lawmakers - at times descending into shouting matches in which she called one Democrat a washed-up loser. As recently as Thursday morning, Trump was defending Bondi, saying: She is a wonderful person and she is doing a good job.
But hours later, Trump confirmed her departure on Truth Social, saying that her new private sector role would be announced at a date in the near future.
Trump lauded Bondi's performance as attorney general in his post, saying she had done a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in crime across our country. However, the president had reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi, particularly over her handling of the Epstein files, which had led to Trump's support eroding over months.
Following Bondi's swearing-in in February 2025, she had pledged transparency regarding the Epstein case, promising to release an alleged client list associated with the disgraced financier. The department later claimed no such list existed, ultimately releasing millions of files related to Epstein only under pressure, including from Trump supporters, after Congress passed a law requiring such transparency.
Under Bondi's leadership, the justice department pursued criminal investigations into political opponents of the president, including figures such as California Senator Adam Schiff and former FBI Director James Comey. With Trump's announcement, Bondi becomes the third high-profile member of Trump's cabinet to leave this term.
The relatively intact inner circle of this Trump presidency stands in stark contrast to his first term in office, which was marked by a high turnover of key officials.
