WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he dismissed Pam Bondi as Attorney General following a controversial tenure marked by issues such as the files of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and political investigations.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will assume the role of acting attorney general, Trump said on the Truth Social network.
“Pam Bondi is a great American patriot and a loyal friend who faithfully served as my Attorney General for the past year,” the US president said.
Trump asserted that “Pam did an extraordinary job overseeing a massive crackdown on crime across the country, with homicides falling dramatically to their lowest level since 1900.”
“We love Pam very much, and she will soon be taking up a new, much-needed and important position in the private sector, the date of which will be announced soon,” he added.
“Our Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, a highly talented and respected jurist, will assume the role of Acting Attorney General,” the US president announced.
Blanche, who was previously one of Trump’s personal lawyers, thanked the US president in a post on X.
Months earlier, Trump had expressed his frustration with what he considered Bondi’s insufficient commitment to prosecuting several political enemies from the period when he nearly went to jail for various offenses following his first presidential term, DW reported, as confirmed by the Argentine News Agency.
The Attorney General also received criticism from both Trump supporters and the Democratic opposition for her handling of the case against the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said Bondi had “completely failed” in her handling of the files, including handing over folders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to a group of conservative social media influencers last year, NBC News reported, as confirmed by the Argentine News Agency.
Bondi is the second cabinet member dismissed by Trump. Kristi Noem was fired last month as Secretary of Homeland Security, in a similar fall to Bondi’s.
NBC News reported that Trump was growing increasingly frustrated with Noem, but that her performance in two congressional hearings ultimately cost her the job.
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