President Donald Trump told Pam Bondi he was firing her as attorney general while riding in "The Beast” on the way to the Supreme Court earlier this week, according to a report.
After a tumultuous 14 months leading the Department of Justice, the president told Bondi, “I think it’s time,” a source told the Wall Street Journal.
Bondi reportedly asked Trump if she could keep her job until the summer, but he said no.
In a statement posted on X, Bondi boasted that she oversaw “easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history” and added she is “eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will replace Bondi as she transitions to the private sector, a career shift she claims to be “thrilled about.”
Bondi’s time at the DOJ was marred by controversies, from mass firings of career prosecutors to failing to secure indictments against the president’s perceived enemies to the mismanaged release of the Epstein files. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Bondi over her disastrous handling of the documents related to the government’s inquiry into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Key Points
- Bondi learned of her firing on the way to the Supreme Court: report
- House Oversight Committee clarifies that, despite her dismissal, Bondi still must testify under oath
- Blanche says Bondi's firing had nothing to do with Epstein files saga
- Epstein survivors 'celebrating but angry' following Bondi's exit
House Oversight Committee member says Bondi will still have to testify
16:30 , Ariana BaioRepublican Rep. Nancy Mace, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said Pam Bondi will still have to testify to the committee about the failed rollout of the Epstein files, even after she leaves her job as attorney general.
“I made my point very clear yesterday when I issued the subpoena that was voted on by the Oversight Committee a number of weeks ago. We did it by name and not by the title of the attorney general. So she is still compelled and required by law to come before the Oversight Committee,” Mace told CNN Friday morning.
“I do believe the handling of the Epstein files was done in a very poor manner by her and her office.”
What to know about Todd Blanche
16:00 , Ariana BaioTodd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, will take over Attorney General Pam Bondi’s duties temporarily after she leaves her position at the request of President Donald Trump
Blanche, 51, is the president’s former personal lawyer. He represented Trump in his New York hush-money trial and was one of his attorneys in the federal classified documents and election interference cases.
At the DOJ, Blanche manages day-to-day operations. Most notably, he oversaw the release of the Epstein files, consistently defending the department’s rollout of the documents despite being heavily scrutinized by lawmakers.
He signed off on a memo stating there was “no basis” to release any more materials from the government’s investigation. He interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell before she was transferred to a lower security prison. He spent months directing other government lawyers to make redactions in millions of pages of documents, only to have many be improperly redacted.
Republican lawmaker says next attorney general should be ‘very aggressive’
15:32 , Ariana BaioRepublican Rep. Chip Roy said he wants the next attorney general to be “very aggressive” in pursuing prosecutions against leftist groups and those who have wronged President Donald Trump, such as former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan.
Speaking to Fox Business Friday, Roy said the next AG should target members of Antifa, people harassing January 6 defendants, investigate “Arctic Frost” and hold the president’s enemies accountable.
“The next attorney general needs to be very aggressive and I hope the president will pick someone who will do that,” Roy, a member of the extremely conservative House Freedom Caucus, said.
Stephen Colbert mocks Pam Bondi with an Epstein-themed farewell after Trump firing
15:00 , Annabel NugentStephen Colbert has some choice parting words for US Attorney General Pam Bondi after she was fired by Donald Trump.
“Speaking of human waste, just a few hours ago we learnt that President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi,” he told viewers.
“Now listen, in tribute to Pam Bondi, I offer this heartfelt farewell…” continued Colbert, before he pulled out a letter addressed to the former Attorney General in which almost all the words were blacked out in a nod to how much of the Epstein files were redacted.
Trump and Bondi discussed her departure for months: report
14:39 , Ariana BaioSince the beginning of the year, Trump and Bondi had discussed her leaving her post as the top law enforcement official in the country, people familiar with the discussions told the Wall Street Journal.
Trump “regularly” expressed disapproval about Bondi’s handling of her job, specifically her ability to secure indictments against his enemies, the New York Times reported.
In March, Bondi reportedly told a friend that the firing of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem meant that she could be leaving her job soon.
COMMENT: Pam Bondi’s dismissal is just the start of the Trump purge
14:08 , Michael DayIncreasingly frustrated by how badly his war in Iran is going, the president has started taking aim at key lieutenants, sacking his attorney general and removing the head of the army – but plenty more will be lined up to feel the heat
Read more from Michael Day:
Bondi learned of her firing on the way to the Supreme Court: report
13:36 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump told Attorney General Pam Bondi that she was leaving her post while riding in the back of “The Beast” on the way to the Supreme Court’s oral arguments.
While driving from the White House to the Supreme Court, the president told Bondi, “I think it’s time,” the now-ousted attorney general told an associate, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Bondi reportedly later asked the president if she could keep her job until the summer, but Trump declined.
Trump polled advisors on whether to fire Tulsi Gabbard as well as Bondi: report
13:00 , Mike BediganDonald Trump has reportedly polled cabinet officials on whether he should fire his director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over her stance on the war in Iran.
Gabbard is said to have attracted the president's displeasure after failing to condemn former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent following his dramatic exit last month, in which he quit his post and criticized the administration's decision to take the U.S. to war with Iran.
Harry Cockburn has the full story:
Trump polled advisors on whether to fire Tulsi Gabbard as well as Bondi: report
Blanche says Bondi's firing had nothing to do with Epstein files saga
12:30 , Mike BediganActing Attorney General Todd Blanche has claimed that Pam Bondi’s firing from her post had nothing to do with her handling of the Epstein files.
“I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was – that anything that happened to her had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche told Fox News Thursday night.
He went on to claim that the Justice Department had now “released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga.”
“To the extent the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this justice department, it should not be a part of anything going forward,” Blanche said.
Trump considers firing more top officials from Cabinet
12:16 , Louise BoylePresident Donald Trump is considering firing more Cabinet members following his ousting of Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday, according to reports.
White House insiders told Politico that the president is frustrated with his secretaries for commerce and labor, Howard Lutnick and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and is considering removing them from their positions.
Bondi is the second Cabinet member to be fired from the Trump administration in a month, after Kristi Noem was removed from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security on March 5.
Border Czar Tom Homan breaks silence on Pam Bondi ousting
11:30 , Mike BediganTrump’s former hush money lawyer Todd Blanche is now in charge of the Epstein files release
10:30 , Mike BediganThe man set to lead the Department of Justice after Pam Bondi’s departure mounted the defense of Donald Trump through his criminal prosecutions and the weeks-long hush money trial that led to the first ever conviction of a president.
Todd Blanche, who Trump appointed as deputy attorney general, will take on the role of acting attorney general following Bondi’s ousting.
Alex Woodward takes a closer look at the man now calling the shots at the DOJ:
Trump’s hush money lawyer will be acting attorney general after Bondi’s firing
Epstein survivors call Pam Bondi’s firing ‘karma’ but worry it’s just Trump being ‘performative’
07:30 , Mike BediganSexual abuse survivors of Jeffrey Epstein celebrated President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday, even as they worried about who might replace her.
Several spoke to The Independent’s Eric Garcia:
Epstein survivors call Pam Bondi’s firing ‘karma’ but worry it’s just ‘performative’
Family of prominent Epstein survivor releases statement
06:30 , Mike BediganThe family of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent Epstein survivors, who died last year, released a statement in response to Pam Bondi’s dismissal.
“Alliance to a corrupt agenda never serves you,” the family wrote. “Another one falls on the sword to protect the powerful! We hope she has the courage to testify and actually do right by survivors this time.”
Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on her handling of the Epstein files next month.
Recap: Trump ousts Pam Bondi as attorney general in major shakeup
05:30 , Mike BediganDonald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after a tumultuous 14 months leading a radically transformed and politically driven Department of Justice.
Trump’s former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general after Bondi’s departure.
Here’s the full story from Alex Woodward in case you missed it:
Democratic Senator says Bondi's replacement will have to 'sacrifice integrity'
04:59 , Mike BediganDemocratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Judiciary Committee, has said that whoever replaces Pam Bondi as Attorney General will "have to deal with some serious problems" at the DOJ.
“I think for anybody in that position in this administration, there is a terrible tension for them in order to keep the job,” Whitehouse told CNN.
“They have got to sacrifice their integrity and be willing to do gangster stuff, and that tends to crash into laws and department rules and conventions and ultimately, federal judges.”
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Judiciary Committee, says that whoever replaces Pam Bondi as Attorney General will "have to deal with some serious problems" at DOJ and predicts they may have to sacrifice their integrity to hold onto the job. pic.twitter.com/xjJlGDPjkR
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 3, 2026
J6er-turned-government advisor also quits post at Justice Department
04:10 , Mike BediganA former FBI agent who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and was later made a senior advisor at the Justice Department has announced that he too is leaving the department, following the departure of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Today I resigned from my position at the U.S. Department of Justice,” Jared Lee Wise wrote on X.
“I returned to Washington to fully expose the abuses by the FBI and DOJ against J6 defendants, but it became clear that this will only happen from outside of government. So I left and will do so.”
Wise was scheduled to go to trial 10 days before Donald Trump returned to the White House.
He had previously admitted to urging rioters to “kill” law enforcement at the Capitol on January 6, and faced six counts in connection with the riots.
Wise was pardoned by Donald Trump on his first day back in office, along with nearly every rioter charged in connection with the assault.
Read more here from Alex Woodward:
He told Jan 6 rioters to ‘kill’ cops. Now he’s working at the Justice Department
Blanche says Bondi's firing had nothing to do with Epstein files saga
03:52 , Mike BediganActing Attorney General Todd Blanche has claimed that Pam Bondi’s firing from her post had nothing to do with her handling of the Epstein files.
“I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was – that anything that happened to her had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche told Fox News Thursday night.
He went on to claim that the Justice Department had now “released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga.”
“To the extent the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this justice department, it should not be a part of anything going forward,” Blanche said.
Laura Ingraham says Bondi had become 'political liability'
03:50 , Mike BediganFox News host Laura Ingraham has claimed Pam Bondi was fired by Donald Trump because she “had become a political liability.”
Speaking on her show The Ingraham Angle hours after Trump announced Bondi’s departure on Truth Social Thursday, Ingraham pointed to the handling of the Epstein files as the main reason for her exit.
“Mistakes and redactions in the Epstein files, and then a supposed mistake in information turned over recently to Hill Democrats,” she noted. “But, perhaps, the most scathing criticism of Bondi was about her handling of the Epstein files.”
Later in the show, Ingraham said she considered Bondi a friend.
“A lot of folks really like Pam Bondi. I consider her a friend. I think she is a patriot to this country. And she certainly has been extremely loyal to President Trump,” she said.
“But the frustrations on his part were impossible to ignore.”
Former Trump White House lawyer says Trump is 'targeting' female cabinet members
03:30 , Mike BediganFormer Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb said he believed Donald Trump is targeting female members of his cabinet more harshly than male members.
“He doesn’t have the respect or the admiration for women that you would expect for somebody who holds this exalted office,” he told CNN Thursday evening.
Cobb pointed to other cabinet members, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that he believed “should be dismissed.”
“He doesn’t have the respect or the admiration for women that you would expect for somebody who holds this exalted office.”
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) April 3, 2026
Former Trump WH lawyer Ty Cobb says he thinks Trump is targeting female cabinet secretaries after the firings of Bondi and Noem. pic.twitter.com/0nfHVxK7Bl
California Rep issues stark warning to Trump cabinet after Bondi exit
03:05 , Mike BediganDemocratic congressman Ted Lieu issued a stark warning to other members of the Trump administration following the departure of Pam Bondi as Attorney General.
“Dear trump Cabinet: You may think you have impunity because dear leader will pardon you,” Lieu wrote on X.
“Think again. You never know when trump will capriciously throw you under the bus without a care for you ever again.
“I hope you think twice before violating the law. November is coming.”
Dear trump Cabinet: You may think you have impunity because dear leader will pardon you.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 3, 2026
Think again. You never know when trump will capriciously throw you under the bus without a care for you ever again.
I hope you think twice before violating the law.
November is coming. https://t.co/EzfjsGh05x
Epstein survivors 'celebrating but angry' following Bondi's exit
02:20 , Eric GarciaLara Blume McGee, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein said she wanted to see accountability for the men responsible for the horrific crimes committed against his victims, following the departure of Pam Bondi from the Justice Department.
"So we're celebrating in one sense, but we're angry, because the men need to be held accountable," she told The Independent.
McGee said that so far, the only members of the Trump administration who have faced accountability and lost their jobs have been women.
She also compared it to how Epstein's former partner, facilitator and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced for her actions, but male abusers have not been.
"Noem, Bondi, even Ghislaine – and Ghislaine recruited me, so she's where she belongs – but it's all of the women that are in trouble, and they're having to do the perp walk," she said.
"They're having the embarrassment."
Epstein survivor says Bondi 'taking the fall' for powerful men
02:00 , Eric GarciaAttorney General Pam Bondi's resignation has caused some of Jeffrey Epstein's survivors to simultaneously celebrate given her botched release of the files.
But they also want to see long-term accountability.
"There is no joy or excitement with the reports of her firing," Lara Blume McGee, a survivor of the late disgraced sex offender, told The Independent.
"This is simply another example of misogyny where women are taking the fall while the men who committed these atrocious acts keep their jobs or go unpunished."
McGee was among the survivors of Epstein who attended Bondi's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in February and raised her hand when asked whether they had been able to meet with Bondi.
"I wanted her to feel my stare, and I was not going to look away, because this is a woman," she said.
“No, what happened was not her fault, but to acknowledge us and say, 'sisters, ladies, I'm sorry for what happened to you,' that's all, that's it.”
Former White House Chief of Staff says Todd Blanche must be kept at DOJ
01:45 , Mike Bedigan“You can’t afford to go back to ground zero.”@MarkMeadows on the Justice Department: amid questions around Pam Bondi, this is no time to reset leadership and lose 14 months figuring out where the power is.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 2, 2026
Keep the team. Keep the momentum. pic.twitter.com/Vfli3m01Hh
ICYMI: Trump ousts Pam Bondi as attorney general in major shakeup
01:06 , Mike BediganDonald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after a tumultuous 14 months leading a radically transformed and politically driven Department of Justice.
Trump’s former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general after Bondi’s departure.
Here’s Alex Woodward with the full story, in case you missed it:
White House denies report that Trump also considered firing Tulsi Gabbard
Friday 3 April 2026 00:23 , Mike BediganThe White House has denied reports that Donald Trump also considered firing National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard.
“@POTUS has total confidence in @DNIGabbard, and any insinuation otherwise is totally fake news,” White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung wrote.
“The President has assembled the most talented and impactful Cabinet ever, and they have collectively delivered historic victories on behalf of the American people."
Here’s more on that story:
Trump polled advisors on whether to fire Tulsi Gabbard as well as Bondi: report
Watch: Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi following Epstein files debacle
Friday 3 April 2026 00:07 , Mike BediganPentagon chief Pete Hegseth reportedly removes top uniformed officer from Army as US wages war in Iran
Thursday 2 April 2026 23:49 , Mike BediganAmid the reaction to Bondi’s firing, the Pentagon announced the exit of one of its own top officials.
The Army’s top general, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, will be retiring immediately, according to the Defense Department, an unusual departure amid the ongoing war with Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly demanded George’s resignation.
Josh Marcus has more:
Pete Hegseth reportedly removes top Army general as US wages war in Iran
Advocacy group says Bondi's firing is a 'momentous win'
Thursday 2 April 2026 23:38 , Mike BediganUltraViolet Action, a leading national women-led gender-justice organization, has hailed Pam Bondi’s firing from the Justice Department as a “momentous win.”
“This is a momentous win not just for survivors everywhere, but also the millions of Americans who continue to demand accountability for all those who enabled Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s child abuse network,” said Arisha Hatch, Executive Director at UltraViolet.
“Pam Bondi will be remembered for her unconscionable politicking around the Epstein files. She will go down as one of the many figures in this administration who were all too happy to protect abusers and their enablers.”
Ultraviolet is responsible for numerous victories against sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein, R Kelly, and Bill O’Reilly, according to the organization’s website.
Trump’s former hush money lawyer Todd Blanche is now in charge of the Epstein files release
Thursday 2 April 2026 23:21 , Mike BediganThe man set to lead the Department of Justice after Pam Bondi’s departure mounted the defense of Donald Trump through his criminal prosecutions and the weeks-long hush money trial that led to the first ever conviction of a president.
Todd Blanche, who Trump appointed as deputy attorney general, will take on the role of acting attorney general following Bondi’s ousting.
Here’s Alex Woodward with a deeper dive on Bondi’s replacement:
Trump’s hush money lawyer will be acting attorney general after Bondi’s firing
Border Czar Tom Homan speaks out on Bondi firing
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:45 , Mike BediganBorder Czar Tom Homan has spoken out after Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi as attorney general.
"I wasn't in the loop on that,” Homan told Fox News Thursday.
"I have her personal phone number, we talk quite a bit... I wish Pam Bondi the best, and I think Todd Blanche will step up and won't skip a beat."
Epstein survivors call Pam Bondi’s firing ‘karma’ but worry it’s just Trump being ‘performative’
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:25 , Mike BediganSexual abuse survivors of Jeffrey Epstein celebrated President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday, even as they worried about who might replace her.
Jess Michaels, a survivor of the convicted sex trafficker, told The Independent that she had two immediate reactions to Bondi’s dismissal.
Read more here from Eric Garcia:
Epstein survivors call Pam Bondi’s firing ‘karma’ but worry it’s just ‘performative’
Epstein survivor advocacy group releases statement on Bondi's departure
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:11 , Mike BediganAdvocacy group World Without Exploitation, which has been working with Epstein survivors, released the following statement following Pam Bondi’s departure from office.
“Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice made numerous errors in how the release of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act was handled.
“Serious redaction failures exposed survivors’ names and identifying information. Simultaneously, the DOJ continued to protect abusers by blacking out their names and withholding documents. These failures have caused devastating harm to the very survivors this process was supposed to protect and empower.”
The group added that as the DOJ moved forward under new leadership, “survivors must be at the center of the process.”
Survivors deserve accountability, not more mistakes that put them in harm’s way. We will not stop until the full truth is revealed and survivors receive the transparency and justice they have fought for,” the statement read.
Family of prominent Epstein survivor releases statement
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:01 , Brendan RasciusThe family of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent Epstein survivors, who died last year, released a statement in response to Pam Bondi’s dismissal.
“Alliance to a corrupt agenda never serves you,” the family wrote. “Another one falls on the sword to protect the powerful! We hope she has the courage to testify and actually do right by survivors this time.”
Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on her handling of the Epstein files next month.
Trump had grown 'more and more frustrated' with Bondi: report
Thursday 2 April 2026 21:42 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump had grown “more and more frustrated” with Pam Bondi in the days leading up to her firing, sources familiar with the matter told NBC News on Thursday.
Two sources told the outlet that the president and Bondi got into a heated exchange last week, though they didn’t clarify what the argument was about.
The White House viewed Bondi as preoccupied with the wrong priorities and unable to effectively carry out the president’s agenda. And, since the Epstein controversy began, she “had struggled to regain her footing with the president,” NBC reported.
Democrat says Bondi will 'go down as one of the worst Attorneys General in American history'
Thursday 2 April 2026 21:02 , Brendan RasciusRep. Tim Kennedy, a New York Democrat, said Pam Bondi will “go down as one of the worst Attorneys General in American history.”
In a post on X, he accused her of weaponizing the Justice Department against President Trump’s foes and seriously mishandling the Epstein files.
“My message to Attorney General Bondi is simple: good riddance for now - we’ll see you testifying under oath before the House Oversight committee soon,” he added.
Bondi is scheduled to testify before the committee about her handling of the Epstein files next month.
Pam Bondi made a mockery of the Department of Justice, turning it into the legal arm of Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution and abuse. She will, without a doubt, go down as one of the worst Attorneys General in American history.
— Rep. Tim Kennedy (@RepTimKennedy) April 2, 2026
Her gross mishandling and lies about the…
Bondi's approval rating stood at just 23 percent before she was fired, poll shows
Thursday 2 April 2026 20:44 , Brendan RasciusBefore Pam Bondi was fired, her approval rating was unenviable.
According to a YouGov survey released late last month, just 23 percent of Americans had a favorable view of the former attorney general. More than twice that share, 48 percent, said they had an unfavorable opinion of her.
Trump was 'frustrated' with Bondi over comments he believes she made to Democratic lawmaker: report
Thursday 2 April 2026 20:38 , Brendan RasciusBefore he fired Pam Bondi, President Trump was irritated with her over communications he believes she had with a Democratic lawmaker, according to Semafor.
“Trump was also frustrated with Bondi because he believes she may have alerted California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell to an effort by the administration to release files from an investigation into his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy,” a source told the outlet.
Bondi speaks out after Trump fired her
Thursday 2 April 2026 20:20 , Brendan RasciusPam Bondi has spoken out after President Donald Trump fired her as attorney general.
In a statement posted on X, she boasted that she oversaw “easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history” and added she is “eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me.”
She said she will be transitioning to the private sector “over the next month.”
Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration.…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 2, 2026
Matt Gaetz, who Trump once nominated to serve as AG, praises Bondi and Blanche
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:37 , Brendan RasciusFormer Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz praised both Bondi and Blanche.
“Pam Bondi will be known as one of the great crime fighters of our time. She is a patriot who has all of our appreciation,” the ex-congressman wrote on X.
“Todd Blanche left his comfortable job at a major firm to defend President Trump against horrendous lawfare,” he added. “He has shown moral courage, strength and exquisite legal talent.”
Trump previously nominated Gaetz to serve as his attorney general, but he withdrew his name from consideration following controversy surrounding a House Ethics Committee report on his behavior.
Pam Bondi will be known as one of the great crime fighters of our time. She is a patriot who has all of our appreciation.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) April 2, 2026
Todd Blanche left his comfortable job at a major firm to defend President Trump against horrendous lawfare.
He has shown moral courage, strength and… https://t.co/pvpZ9JZnsq
Here's a look back at the key moments in Bondi's Epstein saga
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:31 , Brendan RasciusPam Bondi’s dismissal on Thursday capped off a turbulent 14-month tenure atop the Department of Justice, one that was defined by her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Here is a brief look back at key moments in the saga:
- February 2025: Bondi told Fox News that the Epstein list was “sitting on my desk right now.”
- July 2025: In a memo, the DOJ concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to charge third parties in connection to Epstein and that an incriminating “client list” did not appear to exist.
- November 2025: In response to growing public outcry, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act and Trump signed it into law. The measure mandated that the DOJ release all of its records on Epstein within 30 days. However, the department failed to meet this deadline, and despite releasing millions of files, many were heavily redacted.
- March 2026: The House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi. She is now required to provide testimony on her handling of the Epstein investigation.
Epstein survivor says 'this is not about a single person' in response to Bondi's dismissal
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:16 , Brendan RasciusAnnie Farmer, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, issued a statement in response to President Trump firing Pam Bondi.
“This is not about a single person,” she wrote. “It is about a government and judicial system that has repeatedly failed Epstein survivors.
“Regardless of who holds power, survivors deserve accountability, transparency, protection from retaliation, and assurance that those who enabled Epstein, Maxwell, and others will be investigated and, if appropriate, prosecuted,” Farmer added.
Nancy Mace says ex-AG 'seriously undermined President Trump'
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:02 , Eric GarciaRep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, one of three Republicans who joined the discharge petition to force a vote to release the files related to Epstein, lambasted Attorney General Pam Bondi for her handling of the Epstein files.
"Bondi handled the Epstein Files in a terrible manner and seriously undermined President Trump," she said in a post on X.
Mace is running for governor of South Carolina and is angling for President Donald Trump's endorsement. Nonetheless, she has called for transparency with the files. She had previously joined Democrats to vote to subpoena Bondi.
"She has stonewalled every effort to hold the guilty accountable," Mace said. "The American people deserve an Attorney General who is transparent and delivers real accountability. We look forward to a new Attorney General who is committed to getting justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein."
Democratic Party mocks Bondi with 'open to work' meme
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:00 , Brendan RasciusThe Democratic Party’s official X account mocked Bondi, posting a Linkedin-style photo of her with the banner “open to work.”
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) April 2, 2026
Advocacy group president says Bondi 'trivialized’ the DOJ and ‘the sanctity of law’
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:58 , Brendan RasciusLisa Gilbert, the co-president of Public Citizen, who testified against Bondi’s confirmation, issued a sharp rebuke of the ex-attorney general’s 14-month tenure.
“No one can be loyal enough,” Gilbert said in a statement. “No one can punish Trump’s enemies fast enough. Pam Bondi took the DOJ in a lawless, non-independent, shameful direction, and the institution of justice has suffered as a result. Bondi has trivialized the DOJ, the sanctity of law and the attorney general position.”
Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded by Ralph Nader, has sued the administration more than two dozen times.
Lawmakers clarify that, despite her dismissal, Bondi still must testify under oath
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:51 , Brendan RasciusA number of lawmakers have clarified that, despite her dismissal by Trump, Pam Bondi is still obligated to appear before the House Oversight Committee.
The committee voted on March 4 to subpoena Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files.
“This does not get her out of that bipartisan, lawful subpoena,” Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat wrote on X. “We will see her soon.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche praises Bondi’s leadership
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:41 , Brendan RasciusDeputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will now serve as acting attorney general, praised Bondi’s leadership.
“Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship,” Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, wrote on X.
“Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General,” he added. “We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”
Read Trump’s Truth Social post about Pam Bondi
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:31 , Brendan RasciusBelow is the Truth Social post in which Trump confirms Bondi’s departure from the Department of Justice.
