Bondi discloses that Todd Blanche was in charge of releasing the Epstein files in a transcript amid increasing pressure on the potential Attorney General.

Details Emerge on Epstein Document Release Oversight

During a recent closed-door congressional hearing, former Attorney General Pam Bondi disclosed that Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, was tasked with overseeing the release of numerous documents related to the Epstein case. She acknowledged that, although she led a large department, she didn’t manage every facet of this process personally. “I delegated oversight of this process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche,” Bondi stated.

This information came to light from the House Oversight Committee, revealing that the hearing took place just after President Trump indicated his intention to permanently nominate Blanche. This nomination, however, has faced backlash from senators across party lines regarding the handling of Epstein-related documents.

Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April 2, when President Trump announced Bondi’s dismissal. The release of the documents—placing significant responsibility on Blanche—happened shortly after he announced the elimination of a controversial fund meant to aid victims of politicized prosecutions, which some have criticized as a “slush fund” for Trump.

Bondi described Blanche as her primary contact for matters concerning the Epstein files, and he was responsible for updating her about their release. In a related context, it was noted that there was previously no evidence found that Jeffrey Epstein maintained a list of clients, which put Bondi in a precarious position last July.

Bondi also claimed, somewhat ambiguously, that the Epstein client list was “sitting on my desk right now,” while simultaneously looking into files connected to historical figures like JFK and MLK. This comment stirred curiosity, especially because it appeared to contradict her much earlier remarks.

When questioned about Blanche’s meetings with Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell post-memo release, Bondi replied that he had been leading the Epstein file matters since the beginning. She expressed confidence in Blanche’s abilities, especially as they prepare to handle a massive document release mandated by the Epstein File Transparency Act signed by Trump.

However, the Justice Department has been under scrutiny regarding its redaction practices—claims surfaced that it has poorly redacted materials, failed to release complete documents, and even that some files had gone missing. Bipartisan senators have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate these issues.

Bondi defended Blanche, asserting a low error rate in the editing of documents, claiming he managed a complicated task with remarkable accuracy. In the face of criticism, she reiterated that any allegations suggesting that Blanche was at fault for the document leaks were unfounded.

White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Blanche’s dedication and competence in his role. Yet, Blanche’s nomination is likely to come under fire from Democrats, particularly regarding previous ethical guidelines that adviser he should recuse himself from Trump-related matters given his past as Trump’s defense attorney.