Pam Bondi breaks silence after Trump fired her and promoted Todd Blanche as interim Attorney General: Live updates

Democratic congressman Ted Lieu issued a stark warning to other members of the Trump administration following the departure of Pam Bondi as Attorney General.

“Dear trump Cabinet: You may think you have impunity because dear leader will pardon you,” Lieu wrote on X.

“Think again. You never know when trump will capriciously throw you under the bus without a care for you ever again.

“I hope you think twice before violating the law. November is coming.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, the author of the legislation to release files to Jeffrey Epstein, pushed back on former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s praise of outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“Pam Bondi will be known as one of the great crime fighters of our time,” Gaetz said. “She is a patriot who has all of our appreciation.”

Gaetz also praised acting attorney general Todd Blanche, Trump’s former lawyer, who is now deputy attorney general.

“Todd Blanche left his comfortable job at a major firm to defend President Trump against horrendous lawfare,” Gaetz said. “He has shown moral courage, strength and exquisite legal talent.”

Massie responded tersely. “April Fools was yesterday,” he said.

Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California led the discharge petition to release files related to Epstein

“So we’re celebrating in one sense, but we’re angry, because the men need to be held accountable,” she told The Independent.

McGee said that so far, the only members of the Trump administration who have faced accountability and lost their jobs have been women.

She also compared it to how Epstein’s former partner, facilitator and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced for her actions, but male abusers have not been.

“Noem, Bondi, even Ghislaine – and Ghislaine recruited me, so she’s where she belongs – but it’s all of the women that are in trouble, and they’re having to do the perp walk,” she said.

“They’re having the embarrassment.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s resignation has caused some of Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors to simultaneously celebrate given her botched release of the files.

But they also want to see long-term accountability.

“There is no joy or excitement with the reports of her firing,” Lara Blume McGee, a survivor of the late disgraced sex offender, told The Independent.

“This is simply another example of misogyny where women are taking the fall while the men who committed these atrocious acts keep their jobs or go unpunished.”

McGee was among the survivors of Epstein who attended Bondi’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in February and raised her hand when asked whether they had been able to meet with Bondi.

“I wanted her to feel my stare, and I was not going to look away, because this is a woman,” she said.

“No, what happened was not her fault, but to acknowledge us and say, ‘sisters, ladies, I’m sorry for what happened to you,’ that’s all, that’s it.”

Here’s Pam Bindi’s full statement, posted on X, following news she would be stepping down as Attorney General:

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.

Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history.

Since February 2025, we have secured the lowest murder rate in 125 years, secured first-ever terrorism convictions against members of Antifa, shattered domestic and transnational gangs across the country, taken custody of more than 90 key cartel figures, and won 24 favorable rulings at the Supreme Court. I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.

Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after a tumultuous 14 months leading a radically transformed and politically driven Department of Justice.

Trump’s former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general after Bondi’s departure.

Here’s Alex Woodward with the full story, in case you missed it:

Pam Bondi reportedly begged Donald Trump not to fire her from her role as Attorney General.

“She was unhappy and tried to change his mind,” a source close to the matter told The Daily Mail.

The president informed Bondi of his decision shortly before he delivered his primetime address to the nation on the Iran War on Wednesday evening, the source said.

The announcement of Bondi’s departure was reportedly due to be made Friday, though it was brought forward after extensive speculation in the media overnight, the source added.

The White House has denied reports that Donald Trump also considered firing National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard.

“@POTUS has total confidence in @DNIGabbard, and any insinuation otherwise is totally fake news,” White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung wrote.

“The President has assembled the most talented and impactful Cabinet ever, and they have collectively delivered historic victories on behalf of the American people.”

Here’s more on that story: