Interim AG Todd Blanche dismisses reports Pam Bondi was fired over Epstein files

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke about the firing of Pam Bondi by President Donald Trump after reports revealed that the president had grown dissatisfied with her performance in the Department of Justice.

Blanche denied reports that Trump’s decision to fire Bondi was motivated by frustration over his handling of the Epstein files.

“I never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was — that whatever happened to him — was related to the Epstein files,” he told “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Thursday.

Bondi’s firing marked Trump’s second Cabinet shakeup in just one month, when he fired and reassigned DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5.

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Blanche also dismissed a Daily Mail report that Trump believes Bondi tipped off Speaker Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., about the FBI’s plan to release files on Christine Fang, a Chinese spy with whom he had a relationship.

“I’m not going to believe that for a second — absolutely, no,” he told Fox News host Jesse Watters.

The New York Times reported that Trump was unhappy with his handling of the Epstein files.

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Blanche denied the report, saying she and Bondi were in charge and that the Epstein files should not be the Justice Department’s front-runner.

“What happened when the president signed the Transparency Act was that the Justice Department released all the files related to the Epstein saga… Attorney General Bondi and I voluntarily appeared before Congress a few weeks ago to answer any questions they had,” he told Fox News. “We have made every member of Congress, Senator available to come and see any redacted, unaltered document.”

“I think to the extent that the Epstein files have been a part of this past year for this Department of Justice, it should not be a part of anything going forward,” he added.

The Justice Department has focused on millions of Epstein-related files over the past year. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters; US Department of Justice/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump confirmed Bondi’s firing on the Truth Social website on Thursday, writing that he was a “Great American Patriot” and a “loyal friend” and said he would transition to an independent role.

Blanche also praised the former attorney general for his work at the DOJ.

“We’re a better Justice Department, we’re safer as a nation, and we should all be very grateful to the attorney general for what he’s done for this country,” he said on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

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President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting with Housing Secretary Eric Scott Turner, left, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, at the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump called Blanche a “respected Legal Intelligencer” when he announced on Truth Social that he would step into Bondi’s role on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.

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Blanche told Fox News that she was honored to work.

“Thank you for being sad, because we have to make sure that what happened four years ago does not happen again,” he said. “We’re not talking about the investigation, but I can tell you that the Justice Department is working hard every day. It was working hard yesterday, and we’re going to continue to work hard tomorrow, and I’m glad President Trump asked me to step in as acting attorney. [attorney general]and I really appreciate what Pam Bondi has done in the last year.”

Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin is reportedly set to replace Bondi, a source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital that discussions about the transition took place at a meeting Tuesday at the White House.