Pam Bondi fired by Donald Trump: Why was she removed? Who is Todd Blanche? Meet new interim Attorney General

Pam Bondi has been fired from her post of Attorney General by U.S. President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Thursday. Todd Blanche will lead the Justice Department in the interim, as per reports. Bondi faced criticism over handling of Epstein files and DOJ independence. Bondi was accused of removing prosecutors, mishandling Epstein records, faces House subpoena. Bondi is the second senior Trump official to be ousted recently. Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5 following criticism of her management of the agency and Trump’s immigration agenda.

Why has Donald Trump Fired Pam Bondi?

President Trump was frustrated by Bondi's pace prosecuting critics. Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi was not moving quickly enough to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to ‌face criminal charges.


In ⁠a social ⁠media post, Trump praised Bondi as a "Great American Patriot and a loyal friend" and said she will move to a job in the private sector.

During her tenure as the top U.S. law enforcement official, Bondi was a combative champion of Trump’s agenda and dismantled the Justice Department’s longstanding tradition of independence from the White House in its investigations.

But it was repeated criticism over the Epstein files, including from Trump allies and some Republican lawmakers, that came to dominate her tenure. Bondi was accused of covering up or mismanaging the release of records on the DOJ’s sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, a financier who ⁠cultivated ties with ‌an array of wealthy and powerful figures.

The issue created political headaches for Trump and drew renewed scrutiny of his past friendship with Epstein, which he has said ended decades ago. Her ouster could lead to a shake-up in strategy ⁠at the Justice Department and potentially a renewed push to deploy the U.S. legal system against Trump’s targets.

Who is Todd Blanche?

Todd Blanche was Deputy Attorney General when Bondi was Attorney General. Blanche is also Trump's former personal lawyer.

"Our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General," Trump posted on the Truth Social platform.

Blanche was one of the personal lawyers who defended Trump in the multiple criminal cases he faced after he left the presidency in 2021.