Trump fires Bondi as U.S. attorney general
By: Bart Jansen
and Terry Collins
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump fired Attorney Ge renal Pam Bondi after several investigations of his perceived enemies were thwarted and her handling of files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein came under criticism.
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"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," [2025] Trump said in a social media post. He said she would be moving to "a much needed and important new job in the private sector."
..... Bondi's ouster represented Trump's second removal of a Cabinet official in his second term. He fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March [2026] and replaced her with Markwayne Mullin, a former senator from Oklahoma.
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Bondi will be succeeded temporarily by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
..... Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of the Epstein files, which Congress directed in December 2025. The legislation came after Bondi refused in July 2025 to release the files, despite Trump and his supporters campaigning for the release do all federal records in the case.
..... The department eventually released about 3 million additional pages sealed. Blanche said the remaining records either named women who accused Epstein of abuse, could hurt potential prosecutions or were protected under legal privileges.
..... The documents have led to investigation in other countries, including the arrest of a former prince, Andrew Mountbaten-Windsor, but not in the United States.
..... Bondi's critics argued much more should be released.
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"This is bigger than Watergate,: Representative Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky told Bondi at a February [2026] hearing. "This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it."
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Bondi called Massie a failed politician.
..... When questioned about not prosecuting Epstein accomplices, Bondi said lawmakers should appreciate that stock markets were rising under Trump.