President Donald Trump is considering firing Attorney General Pam Bondi, but has not made a final decision, according to a new report from The New York Times, CNN and Politico.
Those reports say Trump has grown frustrated with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files and her leadership at the Justice Department.
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Officials familiar with the discussions told the outlets that Trump is considering replacing Bondi with Lee Zeldin, the current head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
“He’s our secret weapon,” Trump said of Zeldin in February.
Politico reports Bondi’s removal is “imminent,” though other reports say Trump hasn’t made an official decision.
The reports come a month before Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Her testimony is set for April 14, though she and the committee’s chairman are working to avoid the deposition.
Trump and Bondi’s relationship
During his second term, Trump has pushed Bondi to release more Epstein-related material and pursue investigations into his political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey, Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Critics have described those efforts as “weaponization” of the Justice Department, while supporters say the investigations are warranted.
Officials who spoke to The Times say Trump has also complained about what he views as a lack of urgency in those cases.
The department has also faced turnover among U.S. attorneys. Several have stepped down or been removed after Bondi appointed them, with some remaining in their roles beyond the 120-day limit for interim appointments.
Federal law caps those appointments at 120 days, after which a court must extend the term or install a replacement.
Focus on the Epstein files
Much of the criticism surrounding Bondi and the department, however, centers on the Epstein files.
The Justice Department has released millions of documents tied to the convicted sex offender, but lawmakers say key materials are still missing.
Despite the reports, Trump and Bondi appeared together publicly Wednesday as they traveled to the Supreme Court for arguments in a case regarding birthright citizenship.
In a statement to The Times, Trump praised Bondi, calling her “a wonderful person, and she is doing a good job.”
Recent shakeup adds context
Bondi would not be the first member of Trump’s cabinet to leave.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed from her post weeks ago and replaced by Markwayne Mullin.
According to The Times, Trump has become more willing to consider replacing members of his Cabinet.
