President Donald Trump reportedly dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi in a very succinct manner during a short car ride to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, sparking speculation in Washington about who might take her place.
On the day prior to declaring her ousting on Truth Social, Bondi seemingly indicated her departure by saying, “I think the time has come.” Following that, Trump publicly described her as a “great American patriot and loyal friend” but privately expressed frustration over her handling of certain issues, including the Epstein case and perceived failures to prosecute Democrats.
This was a significant move for the administration, as Bondi became the second cabinet member to leave the Trump administration after former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Trump has since appointed Todd Blanche, Bondi’s former deputy assistant secretary, as the interim attorney general and mentioned that he would continue evaluating long-term options for the position.
One administration source indicated that Trump’s preferred candidate is EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who met with the president just a day before Trump notified Bondi of her dismissal. Although the meeting focused on a different subject, officials have suggested that Trump floated Zeldin’s name as a potential replacement.
Zeldin seems to be the frontrunner, although a formal announcement has yet to occur.
Other potential candidates include Republican Senators Mike Lee from Utah and Ted Cruz from Texas, both of whom could likely pass Senate confirmation. Critics have voiced concerns regarding the motivations of the senators supporting Lee’s appointment, suggesting they may just want to sideline one of the Congress’s more conservative members.
According to a senior Republican, “Senators who like to work two-and-a-half days a week are probably Lee’s biggest supporters for another position.”
Possibly adding to the mix is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is enmeshed in an intense campaign to unseat Republican Senator John Cornyn. Paxton has a solid base of supporters, but first, he would need clearance from Cornyn’s Senate Judiciary Committee.
Other names under consideration include top officials within Bondi’s Justice Department, such as Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and Blanche. While Blanche assumed his post on an interim basis, he has dismissed any ongoing investigations regarding Epstein.
