After Pam Bondi took office as US attorney general last year in February, conservative influencers, online investigators, and others seeking full government disclosure about American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein believed they had found an ally within the Department of Justice.
US President Donald dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday following months of tense relations and appointed Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer as the acting head of the
The uproar surrounding the “Epstein files”, the name given to the collection of investigative records, was not the only controversy during Bondi’s tenure. However, the sequence of events, initially building expectations of major revelations, then asserting there was nothing significant, and eventually releasing a rushed and flawed set of documents, remained a persistently troubling narrative throughout her time as attorney general.
Bondi dismissed criticism of how she handled the issue, while Trump lauded her as “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend”.
Timeline: How Epstein Files plagued her time as US Attorney General
February 2025
Shortly after being confirmed as attorney general under a president who had indicated during the campaign that more government records on Epstein could be made public, raised expectations by stating on Fox News that “you’re going to see some Epstein information released.” When asked about “releasing ‘the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients’”, a widely rumored but never publicly seen sex trafficking roster—she responded that it was “sitting on my desk right now.”
The following day, conservative commentators and online creators were invited to the White House, where they were given Justice Department binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified.”
However, the effort to highlight transparency quickly backfired after it became clear that most of the material had already been publicly available. Bondi then pressed the FBI to provide “the full and complete ” later claiming she had uncovered a “truckload” of previously withheld documents and asserting that “everything is going to come out to the public.”
July
After months of buildup, the Justice Department announced it would not release any additional Epstein-related material. In an unsigned memo, the agency explained that much of the evidence had been sealed by a court to protect victims, and that “only a fraction” would have been made public if Epstein had gone to trial. It also stated that investigators found no evidence warranting new charges or further probes, adding that “perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein” would not help victims achieve justice, according to AP.
The memo further clarified that there was no “client list.” Regarding Bondi’s earlier remark that such a list was on her desk, officials said she had been referring to the broader case file.
The reversal drew criticism from conservative influencers and others, who questioned Bondi’s competence. However, Trump defended her and rebuked a journalist who tried to raise the Epstein issue during a White House Cabinet meeting.
Although Trump had previously cast doubt on the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s 2019 death in jail while he faced federal sex trafficking charges, he later indicated, following the Justice Department memo, that there was nothing more to pursue. He suggested that the country, including his supporters, should move on from the matter.
November
As a steady stream of revelations began to bring consequences for some influential figures, especially Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s former Prince Andrew—Congress passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release its investigative files on Epstein. Trump signed the bill into law, portraying the push for Epstein-related disclosures as a distraction driven by Democrats from the Republican agenda.
At the same time, at Trump’s direction, Bondi announced that the US attorney in Manhattan would examine Epstein’s connections to several of the president’s political opponents, including former Democratic President Bill Clinton. None of those individuals have been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s accusers, and Trump, also a former associate of Epstein, has not been accused either. Both Clinton and Trump have said they were unaware of Epstein’s misconduct and had severed ties with him years earlier.
December
When the legal deadline arrived to release the Epstein files, the Justice Department disclosed only a portion of them. Although the records contained some previously unseen material—including candid photos of Clinton—they offered few significant new revelations and included little information about Trump.
The department said it was still reviewing additional Epstein-related documents to ensure that victims’ identities and privacy were protected. However, Democrats alleged a cover-up. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, accused the Justice Department of violating the law by missing the deadline and heavily redacting the material, while some of Epstein’s accusers also raised concerns about the extent of the redactions.
January 2026
The Justice Department started releasing a large trove of additional Epstein-related documents, videos, and photos, though some materials were still withheld.
The records exposed a culture of favoritism and candid exchanges among an elite circle that had overlooked Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida. In the fallout, several prominent associates of Epstein stepped down or lost positions across corporate sectors, academia, major law firms, and even within the British, Slovakian, and Norwegian governments.
However, the disclosures also revealed highly sensitive personal details about some victims, while continuing to redact the identities of Epstein’s correspondents in communications that appeared to reference the sexual abuse of underage girls.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents several Epstein victims, said on Thursday that Bondi had betrayed them by failing to adequately safeguard their personal information in the released files.
February
During a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi sought to defuse the controversy surrounding the Epstein files. She defended the Justice Department’s handling of the matter, directed personal attacks at Democrats, and praised Trump, including highlighting the stock market’s performance, reported AP.
Bondi expressed deep sympathy for the suffering endured by Epstein’s victims. However, she refused a request from Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington to personally face and apologise to them for the department’s actions, and she brushed aside Massie’s criticism regarding the disclosure of victims’ personal information.
March
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued a subpoena requiring Bondi to testify on April 14 regarding the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein investigation and the release of related files. With five Republicans joining Democrats in backing the move, the decision highlighted broad dissatisfaction, including among GOP supporters, over how Bondi managed the issue.
Meanwhile, Jess Michaels is among many women who have said they were sexually abused by the late financier and convicted sex offender, who was known for his connections with powerful figures in business, politics, and other spheres.
After Trump announced Bondi’s ouster, Michaels said on Thursday, “I thought, Well, maybe a woman stepping into this role will finally, finally get the truth. She had this opportunity to be a hero and to really do right by survivors of sexual violence and trafficking, and she chose not to.”
(With inputs from AP)
