Washington: US President Donald Trump sacked his attorney-general, Pam Bondi, after a tumultuous year in which she oversaw the release of the so-called Epstein Files and ill-fated attempts to prosecute her boss’s political enemies.
Bondi was reportedly informed of the termination on Wednesday (Washington time) and flew back to Florida.
“Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,” Trump posted on social media.
“Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900.
“We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future.”
Deputy attorney-general Todd Blanche – who was previously one of Trump’s personal lawyers – will serve as acting attorney-general, the president announced.
Some US news outlets have reported Lee Zeldin, currently the administrator of the Environmental Protection Authority, is a favourite to replace Bondi on a permanent basis.
More to come
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.