Trump says Pam Bondi out as US Attorney General

United States President Donald Trump has said Pam Bondi is out as Attorney General, in a major shake up.

Trump confirmed the decision in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. The update came amid a slate of reports suggesting Trump was considering removing Bondi from the role.

Trump said that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche would temporarily replace Bondi in an acting capacity.

“Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” Trump wrote, crediting Bondi with leading the agency during a period when violent crime decreased in the US, part of a wider downward trend in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, had been closely aligned with Trump’s agenda.

That led to concerns over the independence of the US Department of Justice, particularly amid Trump’s stated desires to enact retribution against his political opponents.

Bondi has recently come under fire for her handling of investigative files related to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump did not mention his reasoning for the decision, instead writing “we love Pam” and that she would be “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.”

Several US media outlets have reported that Bondi could be replaced by Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin.

More to come…