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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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President Donald Trump's decision to remove Pam Bondi from her post as U.S. attorney general has already kicked off speculation about her replacement, with some names surfacing immediately after the news broke.
Bondi’s exit comes after she has faced backlash over the handling of the release of documents related to federal investigations into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump confirmed Bondi's departure in a post on Truth Social, calling her a "Great American Patriot" and "a loyal friend, who faithfully served" in her role.
Fox News first reported on Bondi's firing, citing two sources familiar with the matter who subsequently said the president already had discussed some possible candidates to take up the post of attorney general.
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U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will take over the role while the president finds a longer-term replacement.
Newsweek reached out to the White House by email on Thursday afternoon for comment.
Why did President Trump fire Pam Bondi as US Attorney General?
The president's reasons for firing Bondi remain unclear at this time, but much speculation focuses on two possible factors: First, Bondi has been the face of the administration's release of the Epstein files, with much of the backlash on its handling directed at her; and, second, that she did not do enough to pursue cases against his political opponents, who were criticizing his administration for a lack of action on investigations and that the president had identified as being "GUILTY AS HELL."
The Daily Mail, in a report published on Thursday afternoon, cited a senior administration official, who said that Bondi's departure instead might have been related to Bondi allegedly tipping off Representative Eric Swalwell of California that the FBI was trying to release investigative documents related to his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
The president may have viewed Bondi as interfering in the matter due to a "personal friendship" with Swalwell, even though the representative has openly criticized Bondi since she took her post as attorney general, particularly in light of accusing Bondi of not doing enough to prosecute multiple death threats against him and his family.
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What Does the US Attorney General Do?
The U.S. attorney general serves as the head of the Department of Justice and is a member of the president’s Cabinet, placing the office at the center of federal law enforcement. In this role, the attorney general oversees major agencies such as the FBI and is responsible for directing the department’s overall mission and priorities.
The attorney general has authority over federal prosecutions and investigations, including the power to order internal reviews and establish task forces to examine past or ongoing cases. This supervisory role allows the attorney general to influence how federal criminal cases are pursued and how prosecutorial conduct is evaluated within the Justice Department.
The attorney general is also tasked with setting enforcement priorities, such as combating violent crime and restoring what they describe as integrity to federal law enforcement. These responsibilities reflect the office’s broader duty to enforce federal law while shaping the Justice Department’s approach to public safety and accountability.
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Todd Blanche to Fill in as Interim US Attorney General
Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal criminal defense attorney, steps into the role following months of increased visibility, most notably by leading a lengthy update on the release of the Epstein files. Bondi, in a statement posted to X on Thursday after news of her departure broke, wrote that she will "be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche" before making her transition to the private sector.
Blanche has been closely involved in overseeing the federal response to the release of records related to Epstein, appearing to have become the administration’s primary spokesperson, explaining the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and defending the department’s review and disclosure process on political talk shows and Sunday-morning programs.
Blanche has repeatedly defended the administration's release and review of the documents, particularly against complaints about transparency and redaction errors, saying those issues affected only a tiny fraction of the files. He has also argued that while some of the released material is disturbing, it does not necessarily support additional prosecutions.
Blanche has criticized lawmakers and critics for being “quick to complain” without fully reviewing the materials, making clear that his criticism has been directed at the response to the release—not the release itself.
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Who Might Replace Pam Bondi? List of Candidates
The list of possible replacements is small but clear, with Blanche in the mix due to his recent experience as the face of the administration, as well as Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin, who was named in the initial Fox News report about Bondi's departure as a name floated to replace her.
Leading candidates include:
- EPA Director Lee Zeldin
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche
- U.S. Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
- Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
- Utah Senator Mike Lee
- U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clatyon
- Former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jeff Clark
The potential candidates named have legal backgrounds—DeSantis, for example, served as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One and was stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo in 2006 before deployment to Iraq in 2007.
Pirro, a former Fox News host, also had a thriving legal career serving as a prosecutor and then judge in Westchester County in New York in 1990 before taking the post of the county's district attorney. She currently serves as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
However, only Zeldin has surfaced in several reliable reports, while the other possible candidates are merely more prominent Republican officials with legal experience. Zeldin has served at the EPA since January 2025, where he oversaw sweeping deregulation, and he met with Trump on Tuesday, although it was to address wildfire prevention.
What Do Prediction Markets Say About Pam Bondi's Replacement?
Zeldin remains the heavy favorite on prediction market Kalshi, which sees him with a 55 percent chance of succeeding Bondi, followed by Blanche at 24 percent, then Lee at 10 percent.
Polymarket, however, has floated two other names as possible frontrunners: Jay Clayton, who serves as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jeff Clark, the former Acting U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Division.
Polymarket sees Clayton and Lee tied as best-on odds at 39 percent, with "no announcement" of a new AG by June 30 as the next most likely option at 38 percent, and Clark at 36 percent.
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