Interim AG Todd Blanche dismisses reports Pam Bondi was fired over Epstein files

Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche addressed Pam Bondi’s firing by President Donald Trump following reports that the president was growing dissatisfied with her performance at the Justice Department.

Blanche denied reports that Trump’s decision to fire Bondi was motivated by frustration over his handling of the Epstein files.

“I have never heard President Trump say that anything that happened to the attorney general had anything to do with the Epstein files,” he told “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Thursday.

Bondi’s dismissal marked the second cabinet reshuffle in just a month after Trump fired and reappointed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5.

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Blanche also refused Daily Mail It was stated that Trump believed that Bondi informed California Representative Eric Swalwell about the FBI’s plan to release files on Chinese spy Christine Fang, with whom he was previously linked.

“I didn’t believe it for a second, absolutely absolutely not,” he told Fox News host Jesse Watters.

The New York Times reported That he was unhappy with Trump’s handling of the Epstein files.

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Blanche denied that report, saying she and Bondi took charge and that the Epstein files should not be the focus of the Justice Department moving forward.

“When the President signed the Transparency Act, the Department of Justice has now released all the files on the Epstein saga… Attorney General Bondi and I voluntarily appeared before Congress a few weeks ago and answered all of their questions,” he told Fox News. “We made sure every single congressman and senator came in and saw any documents, redacted or unredacted.”

“Given that the Epstein files are from the last year of the Justice Department, I don’t think they should be part of anything going forward,” he added.

The Justice Department focused on millions of files related to Epstein last year. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters; U.S. Department of Justice/Anatolia via Getty Images)

Trump confirmed Bondi’s dismissal in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, writing that Bondi was a “Great American Patriot” and a “loyal friend” and saying he would move to a role in the private sector.

Blanche also praised the former attorney general for his service to the Department of Justice.

“We’re a better Department of Justice, we’re safer as a nation, and we should all be grateful to the attorney general for what he sacrifices and does for this country,” he said on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

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President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting with Housing Secretary Eric Scott Turner (left) and Attorney General Pam Bondi (center) at the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump described Blanche as a “respected Legal Mind” while announcing that he would take on Bondi’s role intermittently until a permanent replacement is found at Truth Social.

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Blanche said she was honored to serve Fox News.

“I appreciate the disappointment because we have to make sure that what happened for four years never happens again,” he said. “We don’t talk about investigations, but I can say that the Department of Justice works hard every day. We were working hard yesterday, we will continue to work hard tomorrow, and I’m honored that President Trump asked me to step in as acting deputy.” [attorney general]”And I’m also so grateful for what Pam Bondi did last year.”

Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin is reportedly being considered to replace Bondi, and a source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital that discussions about the transition took place at a White House meeting on Tuesday.