Trump FIRES Pam Bondi after a tumultuous year of Epstein files fumbles and MAGA base anger after White House showdown
Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi as attorney general after she desperately claimed her job in a midnight White House showdown.
Bondi became the second cabinet casualty in less than a month; He was ousted amid months of MAGA outrage over his bungled handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files; It’s a saga that has dogged Trump’s Justice Department since Day One.
In his Truth Social post, Trump praised Bondi as “a great American patriot and loyal friend” and praised the “tremendous job” she did to lower the murder rate.
“We love Pam and she will transition to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector, which will be announced in the near future,” Trump wrote.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general until a permanent candidate is selected. Bondi is expected to exit administration and move into the private sector.
Shortly before the Iran speech, Trump informed the AG that he would soon be leaving the Justice Department, according to a senior administration source.
Bondi, 60, begged the President to keep his job and to give him more time, a senior administration source told the Daily Mail.
‘He was unhappy and tried to change his mind,’ the source said.
Donald Trump, accompanied by newly sworn-in U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks to members of the media in the Oval Office at the White House on February 5, 2025.
LAST NIGHT: Shortly before the Iran speech, Trump informed the AG that he would soon be leaving the Justice Department, according to a senior administration source. Bondi, 60, begged the President to keep his job and to give him more time, a senior administration source told the Daily Mail.
Bondi remained at the White House during Trump’s speech before flying home to Florida on Thursday.
Trump’s sudden dismissal stemmed in part from the President’s belief that Bondi had tipped off Eric Swalwell about the FBI’s efforts to release investigative documents regarding his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
The FBI was preparing a document regarding Swalwell’s relationship with Christine Fang.
‘He intervenes in these matters. The source said he was unhappy that the White House intervened because of his personal friendship with Swalwell.
It is unclear why Bondi intervened, but Bondi and Swalwell are believed to have a friendly relationship.
Fellow attorney Swalwell has publicly criticized him since taking the AG position for failing to investigate numerous death threats against him and his family.
As a Democrat, Swalwell is a leading candidate in the California governor’s race.
Bondi accompanied Trump to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to watch hearings on his birthright citizenship case and attended his first speech on the war in Iran.
Donald Trump and Pam Bondi at Mar-a-Lago in March 2016. Bondi, who was Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, first linked himself to Trump during the 2016 campaign, using his prosecutorial credentials to defend himself on national television.
Donald Trump speaks before Pam Bondi is sworn in as US Attorney General; partner John Wakefield and mother Patsy Bondi look on in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 5
Bondi’s tenure has been marred by her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as the administration faces accusations of lack of transparency
But as the President’s Cabinet met to focus on Iran, rumors of Bondi’s replacement spread to Washington.
The president has been less prominent in the media in recent weeks as he privately berates him for failing to prosecute political enemies who tried to imprison him and end his political career.
Bondi’s tenure was marred by his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as the administration faced accusations of a lack of transparency.
Reports are circulating that he is considering appointing MAGA-friendly EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to replace him.
“Let’s hope it’s Zeldin,” a former Trump administration official told the Daily Mail.
Deputy Attorney General Blanche also raises her profile by attending CPAC last week, where she was warmly welcomed by conservatives.
He told the audience that he went to night school in Brooklyn instead of the Ivy League because he was a young father.
Following Trump’s announcement, Blanche said in a statement: ‘Pam Bondi has led this Department with strength and conviction, and I am grateful for her leadership and friendship.
‘We thank President Trump for his trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General. ‘We will continue to support blue, enforce the law, and do everything we can to keep America safe.’
Trump says Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general until a permanent nominee is named
Trump’s sudden dismissal stemmed in part from the President’s belief that Bondi had tipped off Eric Swalwell about the FBI’s efforts to release investigative documents regarding his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
Bondi, who was Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, first linked herself to Trump by using her prosecutorial credentials to defend him on national television during the 2016 campaign.
Trump’s foundation donated $25,000 to Trump’s 2014 re-election campaign.
He went on to speak at the 2016 Republican convention and solidified his place in the loyalist inner circle by joining the impeachment defense team in 2020.
