Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein docs
Bondi was the second Cabinet member removed in Trump's second term, after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after several investigations of his perceived enemies were thwarted and her handling of files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein came under criticism.
"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump said in a social media post. He said she would be moving to "a much needed and important new job in the private sector."
Bondi’s ouster represented Trump’s second removal of a Cabinet official in his second term. He fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and replaced her with Markwayne Mullin, a former senator from Oklahoma.
Bondi will be succeeded temporarily by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Bondi said she would work for a month shifting the leadership of the department to Blanche before taking a private job “where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration.”
“Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history,” Bondi said on social media.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who heads the Judiciary Committee, thanked Bondi for her work and said he was ready to confirm Trump’s next nominee.
“Over her tenure, Pam Bondi helped bring violent crime down to historic lows,” he said.
Bondi had been a lightning rod over Epstein files
Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of the Epstein files, which Congress directed in December. The legislation came after Bondi refused last July to release the files, despite Trump and his supporters campaigning for the release of all federal records in the case.
The department eventually released about 3 million pages of documents but left another 2.5 million sealed. Blanche said the remaining records either named women who accused Epstein of abuse, could hurt potential prosecutions or were protected under legal privileges.
The documents have led to investigations in other countries, including the arrest of a former prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, but not in the United States.
Annie Farmer, who accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of abuse, said Bondi's ouster was about more than a single person because the government and judicial system repeatedly failed people who were abused.
“Regardless of who holds power, survivors deserve accountability, transparency, protection from retaliation, and assurance that those who enabled Epstein, Maxwell, and others will be investigated and, if appropriate, prosecuted," Farmer said in a statement.
Lawmakers accused Bondi of 'cover-up' in Epstein investigation
Bondi’s critics argued much more should be released.
"This is bigger than Watergate,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, told Bondi at a February hearing. "This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it."
Bondi called Massie a failed politician.
When questioned about not prosecuting Epstein accomplices, Bondi said lawmakers should appreciate that stock markets were rising under Trump.
About an hour after Bondi was fired, Massie posted a poll for users on X asking a simple question.
"I support Trump firing Pam Bondi. Do you?" Massie said. "I hope the next AG will release all the Epstein files according to the law and follow up with investigations, prosecutions, and arrests."
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, who tearfully left a closed-door Oversight Committee meeting in September with women who accused Epstein of abuse in what she called a "full blown panic attack," said Bondi handled the Epstein files in "a terrible manner and seriously undermined" Trump.
"She has stonewalled every effort to hold the guilty accountable," Mace said in a post on X on April 2. "We look forward to a new Attorney General who is committed to getting justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein."
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed her to testify on April 14 about the Epstein files.
Investigation of Democratic lawmakers 'embarrassing' for Trump administration: Slotkin
The Justice Department was also sluggish in investigating Trump’s perceived enemies. Trump pressured Bondi on social media Sept. 20 to take legal action against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California.
James secured a half-billion dollar civil fraud judgment against Trump last year, though the penalty was later thrown out by an appeals court. Comey led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which found no alleged ties to Trump’s campaign. Schiff led the first House impeachment against Trump over his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social addressed to Bondi. “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
But judges dismissed indictments against James and Comey and grand juries refused to pursue new charges. Schiff hasn’t been charged.
Grand juries have also refused to indict suspects in investigations from Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia. One probe targeted six Democratic lawmakers for encouraging troops to disobey illegal orders.
“Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, said on social media Feb. 10. “But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.”
Bondi critics welcome her removal as 'petulant, political hack' overseeing 'a cesspool of corruption'
Bondi's critics in Congress and among former staffers at the Justice Department welcomed her ouster.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, in a April 2 post on X said Bondi "is a partisan, petulant, political hack. And now she’s GONE. Keep the pressure on every single one of these extremists."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said April 2 in a post on X: "Good riddance," while taking a shot at Trump as well.
"Pam Bondi was the wrong choice from the start," Schumer said. "But the rot at the Department of Justice begins and ends with Donald Trump."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, said in a post on X that the department became "a cesspool of corruption" under Bondi.
"Bondi will be remembered for blocking the release of the Epstein files, weaponizing the DOJ to go after Trump’s political opponents, and handing out merger approvals as political favors," Warren said.
California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a post on X that Bondi will still be required to testify under her subpoena.
"Pam Bondi and Donald Trump may think her firing gets her out of testifying to the Oversight Committee," Garcia said. "They are wrong − and we look forward to hearing from her under oath."
Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection, an advocacy group for former DOJ workers, said Bondi “took a sledgehammer to the Justice Department and its workforce.”
DOJ lawyers have lost credibility in the courts after ignoring court orders, misrepresenting facts and making arguments with no basis in the law, Young said.
“What she destroyed in a year could take decades to rebuild,” Young said.