Bondi’s Handling of Epstein Files Criticized
CNN’s senior legal analyst, Elie Honig, expressed his disappointment on Wednesday regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s management of files related to sex offenders, specifically in the context of the Jeffrey Epstein case. He indicated that Bondi’s actions were problematic and that he felt a sense of disgrace associated with Epstein.
Bondi stated that both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI had failed, asserting there was no client list that contradicted her earlier commitment to reveal significant new information. In a segment on the “Situation Room,” Honig pointed out that Bondi’s approach violated longstanding DOJ policies, making grand promises that she ultimately could not fulfill.
According to Honig, “She mishandled this situation, especially concerning couples. Over the years, she’s overlooked DOJ policies, which generally prevent any public disclosure of investigation files. It seems as though she didn’t fully understand or didn’t care about the rules, and, by overstating what was in those files, she made this grand proclamation only to now backtrack significantly. It’s like she’s saying there’s nothing more to see.”
Bondi had held a press conference on Tuesday where she noticeably sidestepped inquiries about Epstein, even directing a reporter to ask her about fentanyl instead. “I won’t discuss Epstein,” she firmly stated.
In a prior interview with Fox News, Bondi mentioned that a supposed client list was on her desk awaiting review, yet later, both she and the DOJ referred to a variety of documents across multiple investigations. Additional videos related to Epstein, she explained, cannot be shared due to their containing child pornography.
Honig noted that Bondi’s lack of follow-through has damaged political credibility. “She made a promise about important documents, and suddenly, there’s a 180-degree turn and nothing emerges. This has alienated many supporters on the right,” he added.
There were also concerns highlighted regarding missing security footage from the night Epstein died. Reports indicated a minute of footage was absent as the Metropolitan Correctional Center reset its cameras nightly, creating questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, California Democratic representative Locanna attempted to push Congress to compel Bondi to release all Epstein-related records. However, House Republicans blocked the move during a procedural vote. Speaker Johnson indicated he supported releasing the file but would defer to President Trump regarding the specifics of what materials to disclose.
In another turn, Trump dismissed the investigation’s findings and suggested Bondi should release anything she considered trustworthy regarding Epstein. He had previously defended Bondi, asserting she had done excellent work and suggesting that the public should move on from the Epstein matter. Additionally, Trump drew parallels between the Epstein investigation and the so-called “Russia collusion” narrative concerning his 2016 campaign.
