Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced criticism regarding her handling of the Justice Department’s examination into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a recent interview on Fox News, she was asked about the potential release of a list of Epstein’s clients. Bondi indicated that the matter was under review on her desk, following a directive from President Trump.
A joint memo released by the Department of Justice and the FBI stated that the review did not reveal an incriminating client list, evidence of blackmail involving prominent figures, or grounds to charge any third parties. Bondi later clarified her statement, explaining that she was referring to general case files on her desk, not a specific client list.
Bondi’s distribution of binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to online influencers earlier this year also drew criticism, as much of the information was already public or heavily redacted. Epstein passed away by suicide in August 2019, and enhanced surveillance video released by federal officials showed nobody entering his prison unit during the night of his death, though a minute of footage seemed to be missing. Bondi explained that this missing minute is part of a nightly system reset and that efforts are underway to release this footage as well.
