Bondi became the second Cabinet member to be fired during Trump’s second term, following Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump fires Pam Bondi after Epstein criticism
Pam Bondi is absent. President Trump has fired the US attorney general following criticism of the Epstein file.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after her alleged rival obstructed multiple investigations and faced criticism for her handling of files related to suspected sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
“Pam Bondi is a great American patriot, a loyal friend, and has faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” Trump said in a social media post. He said she would move on to “an important new job that is much needed in the private sector.”
Bondi’s firing marks the second Cabinet change in Trump’s second term. He fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and replaced her with former Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
Mr. Bondi will be temporarily replaced by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, thanked Mr. Bondi for his work and said he was prepared to approve Mr. Trump’s next nominee.
“During her tenure, Pam Bondi helped reduce violent crime to historic lows.”
Bondi was a lightning rod regarding the Epstein file
Lawmakers from both parties accused Mr. Bondi of failing to release the Epstein files as ordered by Congress in December. The bill was enacted after Mr. Bondi refused to release the files last July, even as Mr. Trump and his allies campaigned for the release of all federal records related to the case.
The department ultimately released about 3 million pages of documents, but kept an additional 2.5 million pages sealed. Blanche said the records that were left behind either contained the names of women who accused Epstein of abuse, could harm potential prosecutions, or were protected under legal privilege.
The documents led to investigations in other countries, including the arrest of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but not in the United States.
Annie Farmer, who accused Mr. Epstein and his colleague Ghislaine Maxwell of abuse, said Mr. Bondi’s ouster was about more than one person, as the government and judicial system have repeatedly failed people who have been abused.
“Regardless of who is in power, survivors deserve accountability, transparency, protection from retaliation, and assurances that those who enabled Mr. Epstein, Mr. Maxwell and others will be investigated and possibly prosecuted,” Farmer said in a statement.
Lawmakers accuse Bondi of ‘covering up’ Epstein investigation
Bondi’s critics argued that more of his work should be published.
“This is bigger than Watergate,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told Bondi during a February hearing. “This cover-up has been going on for decades, and you are partly responsible for it.”
Bondi called Massey a failed politician.
Asked about not prosecuting Epstein’s accomplices, Bondi said lawmakers should appreciate the stock market’s rise under the Trump administration.
About an hour after Bondi was fired, Massey posted a survey asking X users a simple question:
“I support Trump firing Pam Bondi. Do you think so?” Massey said. “We hope the next DA’s office will release all Epstein files in accordance with the law and continue to investigate, prosecute, and arrest.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who tearfully left a closed-door Oversight Committee meeting in September with women who accused Epstein of abuse that she described as “full-blown panic attacks,” said Bondi had “handled the Epstein file in a terrible manner and seriously undermined President Trump.”
“She has thwarted every effort to hold the guilty accountable,” Mace said in an April 2 post on X. “We look forward to a new attorney general who is committed to bringing justice to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.”
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed her on April 14 to testify about the Epstein file.
Investigation of Democratic politicians ’embarrassing’ for Trump administration: Slotkin
The Justice Department also had delays in investigating people considered to be President Trump’s enemies. On September 20, President Trump took to social media to press Bondi to take legal action against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Mr. James won a $500 million civil fraud judgment against Mr. Trump last year, but the penalty was later overturned by an appeals court. Comey led an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, but no ties to the Trump campaign were found. Mr. Schiff led the first House impeachment against Mr. Trump over his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We cannot afford to delay any longer. This will damage our reputation and our credibility,” Trump said in a Truth Social post addressed to Bondi. “Justice must be served now!!!”
But judges dismissed the charges against James and Comey, and a grand jury declined to bring new charges. Mr. Schiff has not been charged.
The grand jury also declined to indict any suspects in the investigation by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. One investigation targeted six Democratic members of Congress for encouraging the military to disobey illegal orders.
“Today, a grand jury of anonymous American citizens upheld the rule of law and decided that this case should not proceed,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said on social media on February 10. “But today is not just an embarrassing day for this administration. It’s another sad day for our country.”
Bondi critics have hailed her sacking as a “disgusting political hack” to oversee a “den of corruption”
Bondi’s critics in Congress and among former Justice Department officials welcomed her firing.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in an April 2 post on X that Bondi is “a partisan, angry, political hack. And now she’s gone. Keep the pressure on each and every one of these extremists.”
On April 2, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said in a post to X, “Good,” and also criticized President Trump.
“Pam Bondi was the wrong choice from the beginning,” Schumer said. “But the corruption in the Justice Department begins and ends with Donald Trump.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), the top Democrat on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, said in a post on X that the department had become a “den of corruption” under Bondi.
“Mr. Bondi will be remembered for blocking the release of the Epstein files, weaponizing the Justice Department to go after Mr. Trump’s political opponents, and approving mergers as a political expediency,” Warren said.
California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a post on X that Bondi should continue to testify under subpoena.
“Pam Bondi and Donald Trump may believe that her firing will prevent her from testifying to the Oversight Committee,” Garcia said. “They are wrong. We look forward to hearing from her under oath.”
Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection, an advocacy group for former Justice Department employees, said Bondi “has delivered a major blow to the Department of Justice and its employees.”
Young said Justice Department lawyers have lost credibility with the court by ignoring court orders, misrepresenting facts and making claims that have no basis in law.
“What she destroyed in one year could take decades to rebuild,” Young said.
