Trump Dismisses Attorney General Pam Bondi, Appoints Todd Blanche as Acting AG

Trump's Decision to Replace Attorney General

President Donald Trump has terminated Attorney General Pam Bondi's position and appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the Acting Attorney General until a permanent successor is confirmed by the Senate. Bondi's leadership at the Department of Justice faced significant scrutiny, particularly regarding her management of the Epstein Files. Many speculate that her handling of these files contributed to Trump's decision to relieve her of her duties, despite her unwavering support for him.

With Blanche stepping in as the interim AG, concerns have emerged regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Both Bondi and Blanche were responsible for overseeing the release of the Epstein Files.

Blanche's Involvement with Epstein Files

Todd Blanche's name appears in several documents related to the Epstein Files, although he is not implicated in any wrongdoing. His involvement primarily stems from a controversial two-day interview he conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein, at a Florida prison in July 2025. During this interview, Blanche questioned Maxwell under a proffer agreement about her connections to Epstein and his sex trafficking operations.

Similar to Bondi, Blanche has faced criticism for the Department of Justice's lack of action following the release of the Epstein Files in February 2026. He stated that the DOJ currently lacks new evidence to pursue further charges against Epstein, while defending the department's ongoing efforts. In a conversation with Katie Miller, Blanche emphasized that he does not defend Epstein but refuted claims that the authorities are neglecting the victims, asserting that the department is actively targeting offenders. “I’m not trying to defend Epstein. I’m not,” he stated during the podcast. “I do defend the work that this department is doing today, right now, which is going after every single perpetrator anywhere. And if there’s a narrative that exists that we’re ignoring Epstein victims, that is false.”