BREAKING: Trump fires Bondi, Blanche to lead DOJ

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) - President Donald Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from the Department of Justice on Thursday, according to a post on social media. 

"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump wrote on social media. 

Trump highlighted Bondi's accomplishments over the past year and said she oversaw a "massive crackdown" on crime nationwide. 

He said Bondi would transition to a "much needed and important new job in the private sector." Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice, will temporarily step in as acting attorney general. 

Bondi came under intense scrutiny from leaders in Congress over the past several months due to the Department of Justice's release of files associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi was set to testify before the U.S. House Oversight Committee April 14 on the release of the documents. 

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said he supported Trump's removal of Bondi and called for greater transparency in the continued release of files associated with Jeffrey Epstein. 

"I hope the next AG will release all the Epstein files according to the law and follow up with investigations, prosecutions, and arrests," Massie wrote on social media.