More like Pam Gone-di! President Trump this afternoon confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi would be moving on to pastures new. In a Truth Social post announcing her dismissal, Trump called Bondi a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” who “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,” wrote Trump. Deputy AG Todd Blanche, who Trump dubbed, “a very talented and respected Legal Mind,” will serve as Acting Attorney General. Bondi was Trump’s second choice as AG after his attempt to nominate Matt Gaetz failed. She will now “be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.” Is there no justice in the world?
Semafor’s Shelby Talcott scooped the news of Bondi’s imminent departure this morning. “Bondi’s departure follows months of mounting pressure stemming largely from her handling of DoJ’s files on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, which became a constant thorn in her side,” Talcott wrote. “Trump lost confidence in her leadership.”
The Daily Mail reports that Bondi “begged Trump” not to fire her. The Mail also reports that, “the sudden dismissal comes in part because the President believes Bondi tipped off Eric Swalwell about the FBI’s efforts to release investigative documents related to his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.”
Bondi’s ouster comes just a few weeks after Trump canned Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary, replacing her with Markwayne Mullin. It also coincides with a Guardian story that he had “privately asked cabinet officials” whether he should replace Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, “venting frustration” that she had shielded Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center who quit over the Iran war. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is also navigating troubled waters; she faces an internal investigation over allegations of misusing taxpayer funds to pay for work trips and an inappropriate romantic relationship with a member of her security detail. DoL staffers also accused her husband was also accused of making unwanted sexual advances.
Trump’s second cabinet was noted for how many telegenic women he’d appointed, opting for Fox News-ready communicators with “central casting” looks. With Noem and Bondi gone and Gabbard and Chavez-DeRemer possibly next, the President appears to be changing tack: he’s booting out all the baddies!
Cockburn is at pains to point out that the good-looking men of his cabinet have not faced similar repercussions for poor performance. Pete Hegseth remains front and center despite Signalgate; Kash Patel still leads the FBI despite his creative use of aircraft and hockey-bro antics.
The President should be aware of the risks of purging all the Mar-a-Lago faces from the cabinet. Reinforcements are necessary. Anna Paulina Luna, Tudor Dixon, Nicki Minaj: get ready to answer the call of duty.
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