Trump Dismisses AG Bondi, Names Blanche Acting AG

President Donald Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi last week, elevating Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to the role of acting attorney general amid ongoing controversies over the Justice Department's handling of high-profile investigations. The abrupt leadership change, announced on April 2, has prompted questions about the department's direction and Bondi's scheduled testimony before Congress.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal defense attorney, assumed the position immediately and held his first press conference on Tuesday. He emphasized continuity in the department's mission, stating in a memo to staff that "President Trump has promised a safe America and will continue to deliver on that promise." Blanche also announced the creation of a new National Fraud Enforcement Division to address widespread fraud in federal programs, including health care scams, COVID-19 relief abuses, and welfare schemes. Officials said the division will handle more than 8,000 active cases, representing losses estimated in the trillions of dollars annually. Recent guilty pleas have already recovered hundreds of millions, including a $160 million Affordable Care Act...