Todd Blanche takes over justice department after Pam Bondi sacking
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After Pam Bondi was dismissed by Donald Trump on Thursday, her former deputy Todd Blanche has assumed leadership of the justice department until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Blanche previously served as the president’s personal attorney before his appointment as deputy attorney general during Trump’s second administration. He represented Trump in the hush-money case involving former adult film actress Stormy Daniels and was also the lead defense lawyer in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.
Trump praised Blanche as “a very talented and respected Legal Mind” in a social media post on Thursday when announcing him as acting attorney general.
“Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship,” Blanche said in a statement following Bondi’s ouster. “We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”
Blanche also expressed gratitude for the “trust and opportunity” to serve as acting attorney general.
In a related development, Donald Trump posted another threat targeting Iran’s transport and energy infrastructure last night, stating that the US military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”
Subsequently, Iran reported that a second US F-35 fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory. The state news agency indicated that the pilot’s survival chances were slim, according to .
Last month, the US military had announced that a US F-35 aircraft performed an emergency landing after a combat mission over Iran, with the pilot reported to be in stable condition.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters stated on Friday that the second F-35 jet was downed over central Iran by Revolutionary Guard air defenses, with low chances of pilot survival, reported.
There has been no immediate comment from the US government, and has not independently confirmed the report.
For ongoing coverage, you can follow the latest news and updates on the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran in our dedicated live blog.
Context of Pam Bondi’s dismissal
Pam Bondi’s swift dismissal on Thursday highlights a pattern faced by Trump loyalists such as Jeff Sessions and Kristi Noem, where loyalty alone does not guarantee job security under the president.
Since Trump assumed office last year, Bondi has been among the most significant figures in his efforts to reshape government, being a longtime friend of the president.
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Donald Trump has faced accusations of running a “misogynistic administration” after Bondi became the second woman to be dismissed from a cabinet predominantly composed of men.
The US president removed Bondi on Thursday amid growing dissatisfaction with her performance, particularly regarding the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This action came less than a month after Trump dismissed the homeland security secretary, who faced criticism over department management and immigration enforcement.
Bondi and Noem remain the only two cabinet members dismissed so far in Trump’s second term, despite male officials such as Defense Secretary and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. encountering multiple controversies.
