Trump Dismisses US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Names Interim Replacement

WASHINGTON (Afghan Verified) -- US President Donald Trump has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, a White House official confirmed to Reuters, citing dissatisfaction with her performance, particularly in handling Jeffrey Epstein-related cases and the Department of Justice's slow prosecution of his critics.

Trump met with Bondi in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, ahead of his speech on the Iran war, and informed her of the dismissal. In a social media post, Trump praised Bondi as a "great American patriot and loyal friend" and said she was heading to the private sector.

Deputy Attorney General Tad Blanche, who served as Trump's lawyer in previous cases, will temporarily lead the Justice Department as acting attorney general. Trump is considering Lee Zeldin, current head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as a permanent replacement.

Bondi has faced criticism for alleged mismanagement in the Epstein case, including actions seen as undermining the DOJ's independence and dismissing prosecutors. She is scheduled to testify before the US House Oversight Committee on April 14.

The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department's operations under Bondi's leadership.