Senator Kennedy Questions Attorney General on Epstein Links

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana called on Attorney General Pam Bondy to investigate Secretary of Commerce Howard Latnik regarding his connections to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

On a podcast called “Pod Force One,” Latnik claimed that Epstein was “the biggest blackmailer of all time,” a statement that seems to contradict the Department of Justice’s conclusion from July, which stated there was no evidence Epstein had blackmailed any celebrities using a so-called “customer list.” Kennedy raised this issue during the hearing, noting that Bondy had reviewed the segment where Latnik mentioned blackmail.

“It seems Secretary Ratnick lived right next to Mr. Epstein. Their townhouses even shared a wall,” Kennedy remarked. He recounted a reporter’s question posed to Ratnik about the involvement of other prominent men with Epstein, to which Ratnik acknowledged Epstein’s predatory behavior and the reporter’s question about whether people turned a blind eye. “Do you recall that interview?” Kennedy asked, and Bondy confirmed she did.

Kennedy continued, “And Secretary Ratnick stated, ‘No, they joined.’ He even described Epstein’s approach—something like getting a massage, possibly with a recording to document what occurred. This suggests Epstein was indeed a major blackmailer.” He asked Bondy, “Is that true?”

In response, Bondy reiterated, “Our July memo concludes we haven’t found any evidence of that.” She also noted that the investigation spanned three different administrations, which included former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.

Kennedy further inquired if any interview had taken place with Latnik, to which Bondy replied in the negative. Kennedy pressed her on whether there were plans to interview him, but Bondy indicated that there were no such plans at this time.

“Don’t you think it might be wise to speak with him after this hearing?” Kennedy asked. Bondy responded that if Secretary Patel wished to talk to Latnik, that would be a procedural matter.

Additionally, Bondy and Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized Senator Dick Durbin for not disclosing Epstein’s flight records during the hearing.

In another context, President Trump mentioned in July that he distanced himself from Epstein after reports involving spa employees at Mar-a-Lago, including Virginia Juhull, who alleged she was recruited to Epstein’s island for sexual purposes. Epstein’s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, referred to Trump as a “gentleman” and stated she never witnessed any inappropriate behavior involving him and Epstein.