Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s decide to lead the Justice Department, was chargeable for overseeing the discharge of the Jeffrey Epstein information, former Attorney General Pam Bondi stated throughout a closed-door interview with lawmakers final month.
According to a transcript of her interview with the House Oversight Committee launched Thursday, Bondi sought to distance herself from how her division dealt with the Epstein information because the Trump administration continues to cope with the political fallout.
“He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files,” Bondi stated when requested for her position within the division’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. DOJ has launched roughly 3 million information compelled by Congress, however Bondi was pushed to clarify why one other 3 million nonetheless haven’t been launched.
She argued the division just isn’t withholding any paperwork and that the remaining information are both duplicates or privileged supplies, regardless of bipartisan criticism that Trump’s Justice Department has withheld or overreacted paperwork, whereas by accident sharing info of Epstein’s victims.
“To my knowledge, they’ve all been released” Bondi stated.
She additionally deferred to FBI Director Kash Patel on whether or not the bureau had turned over all related paperwork to the Justice Department.
Bondi got here below heavy criticism after claiming in a tv interview in 2025 that the Epstein shopper checklist was sitting on her desk, solely to later state that she was referring to the complete case file. That misstep brought about mistrust to construct. It was after repeated missteps and misstatements, the White House put Blanche in cost of dealing with the delicate case.
Trump is predicted to formally nominate Blanche to be legal professional normal and the transcript is a reminder that Blanche was the purpose particular person for the Justice Department’s extensively criticized dealing with of the information. Democrats have seized on her testimony to argue that Blanche now wants to testify to clarify his work. It’s additionally a subject sure to be raised at his affirmation listening to.
Appearing voluntarily final week, Bondi refused to disclose any conversations she had with Trump even earlier than he was elected, citing privilege, whereas her legal professional argued these questions had been exterior the scope of the phrases for the interview.
“I’m not going to discuss any conversations that I’ve had with the President on any matter” Bondi stated.
Bondi was fired in early April. Last month, she began treatment for thyroid cancer.
There was additionally key info Bondi stated she didn’t know, just like the essential doc the place Epstein’s 10 co-conspirators are listed however the majority are blacked out.
“I don’t recall ever reviewing this document, so I don’t know who’s in it, and that came from the FBI New York” Bondi stated, including that Patel might deal with that.
It took months for lawmakers to safe Bondi’s testimony. She was subpoenaed on a bipartisan foundation in March, which was sophisticated by her casual assembly with lawmakers that Democrats walked out of as a result of she wouldn’t commit to testifying below oath.
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