Trump fires attorney general dogged by Epstein files scandal

Both Democrats and Republicans have accused Pam Bondi of covering up the sex offender’s connections

US President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was accused of mishandling the release of files related to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Both Democrats and Republicans have accused Bondi, a longtime Trump loyalist, of attempting to conceal some emails and photographs from Epstein’s estate. Over the years, Epstein cultivated friendships with high-profile figures, including Trump.

Bondi’s Department of Justice was also accused of covering up the circumstances of Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019, which was ruled a suicide.

In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump thanked Bondi for doing “a tremendous job” fighting violent crime. “We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s former lawyer and Bondi’s deputy succeeds her as acting attorney general.

“Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime,” Bondi wrote on X.

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

In 2025, Bondi came under fire after the DOJ released a trove of files on the Epstein case that contained little new information and denied that the billionaire had kept a “client list” of individuals to whom he allegedly trafficked women.

READ MORE: Epstein estate to pay $35 million to settle sex abuse claims

The DOJ later released millions of emails and images after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025.