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Donald Trump was full of praise for Pam Bondi in a post announcing her firing, saying she did a “tremendous job” overseeing a crackdown on crime and was a “loyal friend” and “patriot".”

But her dismissal did not come as a surprise to those closely watching the White House.

The president's frustration had been growing with her leadership at the justice department - particularly over her handling of the Epstein files which have become a reputational liability for the administration.

The US House of Representatives’ main investigative committee recently legally compelled her to testify about her department’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump has often demanded unrestricted control of the justice department to pursue investigations into targets of his choosing, even when he was warned there was no evidence to do so.

He addressed that directly in a post directed at Bondi - saying the delays in those cases were "killing our reputation and credibility".

Our live coverage is now ending, but you can read all about it here.

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We can now bring you a statement from outgoing US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In an online statement, Bondi says she will work towards transitioning the office to her deputy and that she is excited about her new role in the private sector. She did not disclose details about her future role but said she would continue supporting Trump and his administration in her new capacity.

"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."

Here is more from Bondi's statement:

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter

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Trump says deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will step in as Bondi's replacement in an acting capacity.

Before becoming the number two at the justice department, Blanche was Trump's personal lawyer.

He defended Trump in a range of cases including his federal prosecution for allegedly withholding classified documents after his first presidency and over alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Both of those cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 election because of justice department policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents.

Blanche, 51, was born in Colorado and earned his bachelor's degree from American University in Washington, DC. He went on to obtain a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2003.

Much of his legal career was spent as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York before briefly going into private practice at law firms Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

As deputy attorney general, Blanche has also been involved in the justice department's handling of the Epstein saga and the release of documents. In July, he interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein serving a 20 year prison sentence.

Aside from his position as deputy attorney general, he doubles as the acting Librarian of Congress.

We have just heard from Annie Farmer, one of the survivors of crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

In a statement, Farmer says that Bondi's departure shouldn't interrupt the government's investigation.

“This is not about a single person; it is about a government and judicial system that has repeatedly failed Epstein survivors.

"Regardless of who holds power, survivors deserve accountability, transparency, protection from retaliation, and assurance that those who enabled Epstein, Maxwell, and others will be investigated and, if appropriate, prosecuted.”

Read more about Farmer here

We are now getting reactions from a few Democrats on Bondi's ouster.

Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia, one of the leaders of the congressional committee investigating the Epstein files, has released a statement vowing to hold Bondi accountable over her handling of Epstein files.

"She will not escape accountability and remains legally obligated to appear before our Committee under oath," he says

In a biting statement, he accuses Bondi of "leading a White House cover-up of the Epstein files", and having "weaponized the Department of Justice to protect Donald Trump and put survivors in harm’s way by exposing their identities".

"She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell."

Garcia adds that Democrats on the oversight committee will continue their investigations into Trump officials even after they leave the administration, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Another Democratic Congressman, Ro Khanna, who issued the subpoena compelling her to testify to the committee, added: "Even though she has been fired, she must still answer to Congress about the remaining documents, why there have been no new prosecutions, and why she participated in a cover-up.”

Trump sought to avoid first-term cabinet turmoil - until nowpublished at 19:24 BST

19:24 BST

Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Donald Trump kept his Cabinet team intact through the first year of his second term. But now, in a matter of weeks, he is shaking things up.

The president's decision to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi comes just weeks after he removed Kristi Noem from her post as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Bondi was a longtime ally of Trump’s. But the president reportedly grew frustrated with her handling of the Epstein files, as well as the Justice Department’s unsuccessful efforts to prosecute several of the president’s high-profile political opponents.

In his first term Trump fired several senior administration officials in his first year in office, and the drama often overshadowed the rest of the White House agenda.

Trump appeared determined to avoid a similar issue in his second stint in the White House, and kept his entire Cabinet together - until now.

Image source, Getty Images

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has just reacted to Bondi's ouster.

The Kentucky lawmaker has been one of Bondi's top critics from within her own party, and has strongly objected to her handling of the Epstein files.

"I support Trump firing Pam Bondi. Do you?" he wrote in a poll on X, asking followers whether they agree.

"I hope the next AG will release all the Epstein files according to the law and follow up with investigations, prosecutions, and arrests," he adds.

Max Matza
BBC News, Washington

A hallmark of Bondi's tenure as the nation's top law enforcement official was her highly-contentious appearances before Congress.

She appeared before lawmakers investigating the government's disclosure of the Epstein files multiple times.

She quarrelled with Democratic lawmakers, and faced off with Republicans unhappy that she has not furthered the criminal investigations into Trump's political enemies.

In February, she lashed out at one Democratic senator, shouting: "You don't tell me anything, you washed-up, loser lawyer!"

But she is perhaps best known for her outburst about the stock market doing well while she was being interrogated about Epstein.

"The Dow is over 50,000 right now," she declared.

Aoife Walsh
BBC News

As we continue to bring you reactions and details from Bondi's firing from the post of attorney general, here's a bit of backgrounder on the longtime Trump ally.

Born in Tampa, Florida, Pam Bondi studied criminal justice at the University of Florida in 1987, before going on to receive a professional degree from Stetson University College of Law three years later. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991.

Before entering politics, Bondi, 60, spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor at the Hillsborough county state attorney’s office, trying cases "ranging from domestic violence to capital murder", according to a profile on her lobbying firm's website.

She was elected as Florida's first female attorney general in 2010 - having won the support of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin - zoning in on opioid abuse, synthetic drugs and human trafficking.

Before becoming attorney general, Bondi was affiliated with the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank founded by former Trump staff members, leading its legal arm. She has also served on Trump's opioid and drug abuse commission.

Bondi was part of his legal team during his first impeachment trial and when he made false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from him due to voter fraud.

• Read more of our profile of Pam Bondi when she was first nominated by Trump here.

Image source, Getty Images

We are now hearing from some Republicans who have known or worked closely with Bondi over the years.

West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito posted on X, thanking Bondi "for her dedicated service to our country".

"Throughout her tenure, she showed dedication to keeping our communities safe and fighting the drug crisis, which has deeply impacted West Virginia," she says, adding her congratulations to Todd Blanche.

"I look forward to working together and wish him the very best as he takes on this responsibility."

Florida Senator Rick Scott calls Bondi "a great friend and one of the best laywers I've ever met".

He adds that "she did an incredible job" as the attorney general of Florida, "and has been an incredible US Attorney General".

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter

It was no secret the president had been frustrated with Bondi's handling of the Epstein files.In fact, her entire tenure as attorney general has been marred by fallout from her handling of the government's files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

She had promised to release the files but appeared to renege, and then was ultimately forced to make them public to comply with congressional legislation.

While the justice department has released millions of documents, millions more have yet to be made public.

The agency, and subsequently Bondi, has faced bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers accusing the department of failing to obscure some identifying information about survivors while protecting the identities of those who were not victims.

Survivors told the BBC that Bondi has yet to meet them in person or respond to their emails about Epstein's wrongdoing.

We have just heard from the man who is going to take charge from Bondi until a replacement is announced.Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche writes on social media he is "grateful for (Pam Bondi's) leadership and friendship", just minutes after Donald Trump announced Blanche would temporarily replace Bondi as attorney general.

"Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction," he says on X.

"We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe."

Image source, X/ @WhiteHouse

As Trump made history yesterday, becoming the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court arguments, Pam Bondi was there with him.

Photos of the two of them together that were posted by the White House shows them in what appears to be a serious discussion.

Trump left shortly after his lawyers presented their case for ending birthright citizenship. It's unclear when Bondi departed the court hearing.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Bondi's departure from the Trump administration is the third high-profile departure from Trump's cabinet this term, following that of former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem earlier this year and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz - whose job was added to Marco Rubio's portfolio.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January last year, political commentators across the country have remarked that the lack of frequent reshuffling marks a stark departure from his chaotic first term.

Trump's famous TV catchphrase was "you're fired" - and it's one he frequently put to use between 2017 and 2020.

In the first year alone, the administration saw the departure of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, FBI Director James Comey, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Steve Bannon and Health Secretary Tom Price, among others.

Two press secretaries - Sean Spicer and Anthony Scaramucci - also lost their jobs in that first year, with the latter taking place after just ten days.

The sackings continued through the administration, right up until December 2020 - just over a month before he left office.

And just now we have heard directly from the president.

Trump has posted on Truth Social to confirm that Bondi will take a "new job in the private sector", and be replaced by her deputy Todd Blanche.

"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump writes.

"Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900.

"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, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General.

"Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

For those watching the White House, Pam Bondi's departure as Attorney General does not come as a surprise - although the timing may seem a bit sudden.

Just yesterday, Bondi was with President Trump as the president visited the Supreme Court to hear arguments in the birthright case. By all accounts, on a personal level, he likes her.

Just today, a White House official sent the BBC a comment - bearing Trump's name - that referred to her as a "wonderful person" who was "doing a good job".

He had, however, become increasingly frustrated with her, over her handling of the Epstein files.

Lawmakers - from both sides of the political spectrum - accused her of mishandling the release of the Epstein files.

Additionally, Bondi had been tasked with pursuing criminal investigations into political opponents such as California Democrat Adam Schiff and Attorney General Letitia James - which largely went nowhere.

Trump directly addressed this in a September post - addressed to Bondi - saying that delays in those cases were "killing our reputation and credibility."

Pam Bondi is out of her job as US attorney general in the Trump administration, reports the BBC's US news partner CBS.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will work as acting attorney general, and Bondi will be offered another post in the administration, CBS says.

Image source, Getty Images

Pam Bondi out as Trump's attorney general

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