Pam Bondi’s Closed-Door Admission of Limited Authority

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was dismissed by President Trump in April, insisted during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee that she had limited authority over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Her statements placed the responsibility on her former deputy and successor, Todd Blanche.

Bondi’s remarks, made in a private committee meeting, were a candid acknowledgment of her own lack of power, contrasting with her previous public appearances where she aggressively defended her role. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee, noted Bondi’s assertion that Blanche managed the entire investigation.

In addition, Bondi noted that it was Blanche who decided which documents to release, as reported by someone present during her testimony. She also frequently referred to Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, during the discussion.

Current and former Justice Department officials, speaking anonymously, disputed Bondi’s portrayal. They stated she was aware of every major development in the Epstein case and approved all major decisions, including a memo in July 2025 that officially concluded the government’s review of the files.

After the interview, Bondi praised Blanche on social media for handling the immense task of the Epstein case. She described him as an “incredible” attorney general and denied any friction between them.