Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files

President Donald Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, after a 14-month tenure. Trump reportedly informed Bondi of her termination during a car ride to the Supreme Court, stating, "I think it’s time." He later announced the move on Truth Social, praising her as a "Great American Patriot" while stating she would transition to the private sector.

The removal stemmed from Trump's frustration with Bondi's perceived failure to aggressively prosecute political enemies—including James Comey and Letitia James—and her mishandling of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Specifically, Bondi faced criticism for promising a "client list" that the DOJ and FBI later denied existed, and for failing to properly redact survivor names in released documents. Some reports also alleged Bondi tipped off Representative Eric Swalwell regarding FBI plans to release documents about his ties to a Chinese spy.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer for Trump, was appointed Acting Attorney General. Blanche has since declared the Epstein file releases closed, though Representative Thomas Massie warned him of criminal liability if remaining records are not disclosed. The ouster occurred just 12 days before Bondi was scheduled for a House Oversight Committee deposition on April 14, leading Representative Seth Moulton to allege the firing was timed to obstruct the probe.

Trump is reportedly considering EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin as a permanent successor. Bondi's removal is the second major cabinet shakeup in a month, following the March ouster of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as Trump considers further reorganizations amid a conflict with Iran.