Trump removes Attorney General Pam Bondi, second Cabinet official in a month

New York: US President Donald Trump has fired his embattled Attorney General Pam Bondi, announcing it on a delicately worded post on Truth Social on Thursday.

She is the second Cabinet official dismissed by Trump, following the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5.

President Trump said that he was appointing Bondi’s Deputy, Todd Blanche, as the Acting Attorney General.

“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,” he added.

In his social media post carefully worded to minimise the fallout, President Trump praised Bondi as a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year”.

“Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900,” the US President added.

The Attorney General in the US has wide powers as the Head of the Department of Justice, taking on some of the functions akin to that of a Home Minister in other government structures.

Considered the top law enforcement official in the country, the Attorney General controls powerful agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

President Trump was reportedly displeased with Bondi’s release of the files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile who moved in high-level circles.

To his embarrassment, Trump’s name cropped up in the files, although there was nothing incriminating about him.

Several high-profile officials connected to both political parties, including former Democrat President Bill Clinton, popped in the files.

Bondi has been close to President Trump, serving on the legal team defending him during impeachment trials.

She had earlier been the Attorney General of Florida state.

The US Justice Department was roiled by several controversies, among them the targeting of President Trump’s political foes.

Several lawyers and other officials with the Department have quit because of their differences with Bondi.

Bondi was also under pressure from Trump to quickly prosecute those he considered had crossed paths with him.

IANS