WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, a close ally and the country’s top law enforcement official, in a surprise move.
According to a Reuters report, the decision followed growing frustration within the administration over Bondi’s performance and controversy surrounding the handling of files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump named his former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, as acting attorney general, signaling a move to tighten his control over the Department of Justice.
Sources said two main factors led to Bondi’s dismissal. The first was alleged mismanagement in the release of thousands of pages of records related to the Epstein case. Republican lawmakers and Trump allies accused Bondi of delaying the disclosure.
The second factor was Trump’s dissatisfaction with the pace of legal action against his political opponents. He had pushed for swift prosecutions, but officials said Bondi’s approach did not meet his expectations.
Blanche, a longtime Trump associate, is seen as a loyal figure. Analysts say his appointment could shift the Justice Department’s priorities and lead to a more aggressive legal approach aligned with Trump’s agenda.
In a social media post, Trump called Bondi a “great patriot” and said she would return to the private sector. Bondi described her tenure as “the honor of a lifetime” and said she would step down within a month.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin criticized the move. He said Bondi’s tenure reflected efforts to use the Justice Department for political purposes, but added she ultimately failed to satisfy Trump.
Bondi is the second senior official to be removed from the administration in recent weeks, following other high-level changes.
