Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, elevates Todd Blanche
President Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi is leaving the Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general.
2:10 PM
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi is out from the top job at the Justice Department, marking his second major cabinet-level change in less than a month.
Trump confirmed the decision in a post on Truth Social, stating that Bondi "will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future." He described Bondi as "a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year."
In his announcement, Trump praised Bondi's tenure, saying she "did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, will assume the role of acting attorney general. Trump described Blanche as "a very talented and respected legal mind."
Bondi's departure comes amid mounting frustration within the administration over her leadership. According to reports, Trump had grown frustrated with Bondi for not moving aggressively enough to prosecute his political critics and adversaries. Sources told CNN that Trump had a "tough" conversation with Bondi on Wednesday to inform her of the decision.
Bondi also faced criticism in Washington over her handling of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. The politically sensitive release of those files had drawn particular attention.
Reports indicated that Trump had considered other options for the position. According to some accounts, Trump had toyed with the idea of appointing Bondi as a judge. Lee Zeldin, the former New York congressman who now leads the Environmental Protection Agency, has been identified as a top contender to replace Bondi permanently.
Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, had been closely aligned with Trump's agenda since his candidacy. Her tenure at the Justice Department had raised concerns among observers about the independence of the department, particularly as prosecutors under her command announced investigations and criminal charges.