President Donald Trump is reportedly moving to remove Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, with Fox News reporting that she has already been fired amid mounting controversy over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The reported dismissal follows weeks of growing frustration inside Trump’s orbit, where allies had raised concerns about Bondi’s approach to politically sensitive investigations and the Justice Department’s (DOJ) handling of Epstein-related records.
Political betting markets, including Kalshi, had already reflected rising expectations of her exit, with odds climbing sharply in recent days.
Sources familiar with internal discussions said Trump’s dissatisfaction had centered on two primary issues: what some allies viewed as a lack of aggressiveness in pursuing political opponents and lingering disputes over the release of Epstein documents.
Congress had mandated disclosure of the files, but thousands of pages were heavily redacted, drawing backlash from transparency advocates and victims seeking accountability.
“The president wanted indictments against people he believes broke the law,” one Trump ally said, pointing to unmet expectations within the administration.
The Daily Boulder reported that a former White House official added, “Failing to secure indictments is a problem for job security with the president. No one is more anxious than Trump to get everything done immediately.”
Bondi had publicly defended the department’s actions amid the controversy.
Bondi has defended the department’s approach, according to The Independent.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done on this,” she said, despite bipartisan criticism and public outcry over redacted accomplice names.
Epstein victims and some members of Congress have publicly labeled the handling of the files a cover-up.
Trump has also expressed dissatisfaction with Bondi’s communication skills and the DOJ’s pace in addressing politically sensitive cases.
A deleted Truth Social post from last year shows the president demanding swift action against figures he considers adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, criticizing the DOJ as “all talk, no action.”
Attention is now turning to who could replace Bondi.
Lee Zeldin, currently serving as Environmental Protection Agency administrator, has been widely mentioned as a leading contender.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has also been floated as a possible successor, though no official announcement has been made.
White House sources say talks around Zeldin have intensified recently, though no final decision has been made, according to CBS News.
Bondi’s reported removal comes just days before she was scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein investigation, adding another layer of significance to the timing.
During her tenure, Bondi oversaw sweeping personnel changes across the department, including the departure of thousands of federal attorneys and prosecutors, particularly those involved in politically sensitive cases.
Those moves drew concern from some career officials, who questioned the long-term direction of the department under Trump’s leadership.
The White House has not yet issued a formal statement confirming the reported firing.
Still, the move signals a significant shift as the administration faces ongoing scrutiny over high-profile investigations and efforts to meet the president’s legal and political priorities.
