Eric Swalwell responds to claim Pam Bondi was fired for leaking info to him

A senior Trump administration source denied sensational claims Pam Bondi was fired for tipping off Rep Eric Swalwell
PUBLISHED APR 3, 2026
Eric Swalwell says Pam Bondi did not tip him off (Getty Images, Matei Horvath/Getty Images for California Environmental Voters)
Eric Swalwell says Pam Bondi did not tip him off (Getty Images, Matei Horvath/Getty Images for California Environmental Voters)


WASHINGTON, D.C.: Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has asserted that Pam Bondi’s firing did not happen because of him.

During an interview with MS NOW’s Antonia Hylton, the politician claimed that the former Attorney General “did not tip us off” about FBI plans to release files related to his past associations with a Chinese spy.

Eric Swalwell blames FBI agents for tipping off Washington Post

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) held the news conference to discuss the House Republicans approving a new panel to investigate the January sixth attack on the U.S Capitol. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Rep Eric Swalwell said Pam Bondi was not fired because of him (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Swalwell told Hylton, “No, no. The attorney general did not tip us off. No one in her orbit tipped us off.”

“It was FBI agents who tipped off The Washington Post because they saw this effort by Kash Patel and Donald Trump to try and interfere in a California governor’s race that I have been leading,” he added.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) questions Special Counsel Jack Smith as he testifies during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. Smith testified on his team's federal criminal investigations into President Donald Trump which included 2020 election interference and classified documents. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Rep Eric Swalwell’s past ties to Christine Fang have been a source of concern for years (Al Drago/Getty Images)

White House claims Bondi's firing not related to Eric Swalwell

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. Bondi is expected to face questions on her department’s handling of the files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump’s investigations into political foes and the handing of the two fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Pam Bondi was fired as attorney general by President Trump (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Congressman’s statement came after the White House also clarified that Bondi’s termination was not related to Swalwell. A senior Trump administration source told The New York Post, “The president has been considering this change for a long time.”

In a Thursday, April 2, social media post President Donald Trump announced that Bondi “will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.”



Calling her “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend,” the US leader said that Bondi “faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900.”

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 1: President Donald Trump gestures after speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. Trump used the prime-time address to update the nation on the war in Iran. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)
President Trump liked ex-AG Pam Bondi but wasn’t satisfied with her job performance (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)

“Our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General,” Trump added.

Todd Blanche defends Pam Bondi

FILE - Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks with reporters during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington, as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, listens. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general while Trump considers a permanent replacement for Pam Bondi (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

Meanwhile, Blanche has also supported Bondi amid the difficult time and claimed that her firing has no connection to her handling of the Epstein files or any information leak to Swalwell.

He told Jesse Watters that he “never heard President Trump say that the attorney general –  that anything that happened to her –  had anything to do with the Epstein files.”

The interim AG also added that Bondi “made our country safe again, and she is a friend, and she did a great job in the first year of this administration … We are a better Justice Department, we are safer as a nation and we should all be very grateful to the attorney general.”

Bondi expresses her gratitude towards Trump

Bondi herself thanked Trump for the opportunity given to serve the country. She wrote on X, "Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about."



WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. Bondi is expected to face questions on her department’s handling of the files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump’s investigations into political foes and the handing of the two fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Pam Bondi had recently been under scrutiny for her department’s handling of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

"I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again," she added.

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