Trump fires Pam Bondi as US Attorney General

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General on Thursday due to growing dissatisfaction with her work, particularly regarding the release of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump believed that Bondi was not acting fast enough to pursue legal action against critics and opponents he wanted charged with crimes, sources reported. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, will temporarily take charge of the Justice Department, as announced by Trump in a social media update. In his post, Trump commended Bondi, calling her a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” who had managed a “massive crackdown in Crime.” He mentioned that she would soon transition to a role in the private sector, though he did not provide specifics. Bondi expressed on social media that it had been a great honor to lead Trump’s significant efforts to enhance safety and security in America. She indicated that she would spend the upcoming month helping Blanche transition into his new role. Blanche thanked Trump on social media and praised Bondi, vowing to do “everything in our power to keep America safe.” Throughout her time as the main law enforcement official in the U.S., Bondi actively supported Trump’s agenda and altered the Justice Department's tradition of remaining independent from the White House regarding investigations. However, her term was marked by consistent criticism over the Epstein documents, including complaints from Trump allies and some Republican lawmakers. Bondi faced accusations of mishandling or obscuring the release of records from the DOJ’s investigations into Epstein, who had connections with influential and wealthy individuals. Trump reportedly informed Bondi at a White House meeting on Wednesday that he intended to replace her as attorney general, according to a source familiar with the situation. Recently, Trump allies had urged him to “rip off the Band-Aid” and dismiss her, according to the same source and another individual knowledgeable about the matter.