{"id":2586897,"date":"2026-04-03T12:40:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-denies-interest-in-attorney-general-role\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T12:41:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:41:22","slug":"mike-lee-denies-interest-in-attorney-general-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-denies-interest-in-attorney-general-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Lee denies interest in attorney general role"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-lee-denies-interest-in-attorney-general-role%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2586897&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Mike Lee dismissed rumors that he is aiming to become President Trump\u2019s next attorney general after Pam Bondi\u2019s firing, posting, \u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere.\u201d A longtime Trump ally with a reputation for tough conservative stances and procedural tactics, Lee has often been floated for the job but remains in Congress in Utah\u2019s safe seat. Bondi will transition the attorney general role to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche within the next month before moving to a private-sector position.<\/p>\n<p>Trump praised Bondi after her ouster, which followed frustration with her handling of Epstein-related prosecutions. Bondi\u2019s departure marks the second Cabinet shake-up under Trump, with other changes including Kristi Noem\u2019s removal as Homeland Security secretary and other potential firings on the horizon. possible permanent Bondi successors mentioned include Lee Zeldin, Jeanine Pirro, and Harmeet Dhillon, all of whom would require senate confirmation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mike Lee denies interest in attorney general role: &lsquo;I&rsquo;m not going anywhere&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2550662\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) offered a brief but pointed rebuttal Friday to rumors he may be jockeying to become President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\">next attorney general<\/a> following the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4513647\/trump-fires-attorney-general-pam-bondi\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4513647\/trump-fires-attorney-general-pam-bondi\/\">ouster of Pam Bondi<\/a> as the nation&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-whitmer-ally-rejects-call-for-investigation-gop-hints-at-funding-special-prosecutor\/\" title=\"After Whitmer Ally Rejects Call For Investigation, GOP Hints At Funding Special Prosecutor\">top law enforcement official<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going anywhere,&rdquo; the third-term senator tweeted.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s no secret in Washington that Lee, known for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >strong conservative policy positions<\/a>, has often irked fellow Senate Republicans with procedural tactics. It&rsquo;s in that spirit that Lee moving over to the administration would be one less headache for leadership.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>But Lee, an attorney who clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and served as an assistant U.S. attorney, has been floated for the job before. As a staunch ally of Trump, Lee has instead remained in Congress in what is a safe seat.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&rsquo;m not going anywhere <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nr45lAyPSK\">https:\/\/t.co\/Nr45lAyPSK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/2039933024822067294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The Lee speculation was almost instant following the firing of Bondi on Thursday, after growing frustrations from Trump over her handling of the Epstein files and other prosecutions targeting the president&rsquo;s political foes. In a social media post, Trump called Bondi a &ldquo;Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, said she&rsquo;ll transition the attorney general role &ldquo;over the next month&rdquo; to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche &ldquo;before moving to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-the-last-straw-that-led-to-trump-firing-pam-bondi-had-to-do-with-eric-swalwell\/\" title=\"Report: The Last Straw That Led to ... Firing Pam ... Had to Do with Eric Swalwell\">important private sector role<\/a> I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\">WHO COULD TRUMP REMOVE NEXT AFTER BONDI? CABINET SHAKE-UPS FUEL SPECULATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The firing was the second Cabinet official to be ousted and the latest in a series of recent shake-ups by Trump across his administration, including the removal of&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482026\/trump-ousts-kristi-noem-department-homeland-security-chief-markwayne-mullin-take-place\/\">Kristi Noem <\/a>as Homeland Security secretary and the ousting of Greg Bovino as a lead figure in the administration&rsquo;s immigration crackdown. Other <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\">Cabinet firings<\/a> could also be on the horizon.<\/p>\n<p>Possible permanent Bondi successors, who will require Senate confirmation, include Environmental Protection Agency Administrator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lee-zeldin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3116\">Lee Zeldin<\/a>, U.S. attorney in Washington and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, and Justice Department civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lee denies AG bid; says he will stay in Senate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2586898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26080685044750.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32116,35410,4133,3740,75101],"class_list":["post-2586897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-attorney-general","tag-mike-lee","tag-news","tag-senate","tag-utah-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26080685044750.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2586897"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586901,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586897\/revisions\/2586901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}