Todd Blanche takes over the justice department after Pam Bondi’s dismissal – US politics live
Trump announced that the deputy attorney general, who was his former personal attorney, will act until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Donald Trump is visiting Washington today. Currently, he will spend the day in closed-door sessions.
According to the White House schedule, he has no press availability scheduled, but we will notify you if this changes.
Pam Bondi was Trump’s primary enforcer when it came to pursuing his perceived political rivals.
Will Todd Blanche continue to pursue cases against Comey, James, and others now that he leads the Department of Justice? He avoided the topic during a Fox News interview on Thursday night.
Blanche told Jesse Watters that Trump was dissatisfied with the condition of investigations, but said, “We don’t talk about investigations, but I can tell you that the Department of Justice works hard every day.” It worked yesterday, and we’ll keep working tomorrow.”
Last night, Donald Trump issued another threat against Iran’s transportation and energy infrastructure, claiming that the US military had “not even begun destroying what’s left in Iran.” Bridges will come next, followed by electric power plants! The new regime’s leadership understands what needs to be done, and it must be done quickly!”
Iran later said that a second US F-35 fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with the state news agency stating that the pilot is unlikely to live, according to Reuters.
Last month, the US military announced that an F-35 fighter made an emergency landing after performing a combat mission over Iran. According to the military, the jet’s pilot was in stable condition.
According to Reuters, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters stated on Friday that the second F-35 airplane was shot down over central Iran by Revolutionary Guard air defenses, with a poor possibility of pilot survival.
The US issued no immediate reaction, and the Guardian was unable to confirm the allegation.
Our dedicated live blog provides the most recent news and updates on the US-Israeli conflict in Iran.
Pam Bondi’s quick firing on Thursday highlights a fact that Trump allies have faced, from Jeff Sessions to Kristi Noem: no amount of allegiance can shield you from being discarded by Donald Trump.
Since the president took office last year, few persons have been more vital to his efforts to reform government than Bondi, his long-time friend.
It wasn’t enough.
Donald Trump has been accused of leading a “misogynistic administration” after firing Pam Bondi, the second woman in a cabinet already dominated by men.
The US president fired the attorney general on Thursday amid growing dissatisfaction with her performance, particularly the release of papers on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The move comes less than a month after Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing criticism of her department’s administration and immigration enforcement.
Bondi and Noem are the only two cabinet members to be fired so far in Trump’s second term, despite the fact that male officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. have been embroiled in problem after controversy.
Todd Blanche takes over the Justice Department after Pam Bondi’s sacking.
After Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi on Thursday, her former deputy Todd Blanche is taking over the Justice Department until a permanent replacement is approved.
Blanche was the president’s personal attorney before becoming deputy attorney general during Trump’s second administration. He represented him in the hush-money lawsuit filed by former porn star Stormy Daniels. He also worked as Trump’s primary defense attorney in the Mar-a-Lago docs lawsuit.
When Trump appointed Blanche as acting attorney general on Thursday, he described him as “a very talented and respected legal mind.”
Blanche issued a statement following Bondi’s removal, stating he is grateful for the “trust and opportunity” to serve as acting Attorney General..
“Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship,” Blanche added. “We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”