President Donald Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday amid growing criticism from far-right influencers regarding the Justice Department’s decision not to disclose more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case. During a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump interrupted a reporter’s inquiry about Epstein, expressing disbelief that the topic was still being discussed, especially in light of recent tragedies. He urged a focus on the country’s successes instead.
Despite calls for her resignation from some conservative corners, Trump’s comments seemed to reinforce Bondi’s position. Critics were frustrated with her earlier claims about having a client list on her desk, which turned out to be non-existent, as confirmed by the Justice Department. This revelation exacerbated tensions among conservatives who suspected a government cover-up.
Following an initial document release that failed to meet expectations, Bondi had suggested that more significant revelations awaited release. However, a subsequent Justice Department memo stated that no further disclosures deemed appropriate would occur, as much of the evidence was sealed to protect victims, and only a small portion would have been revealed had Epstein faced trial.
The memo primarily included evidence intended to support the assertion that Epstein died by suicide in jail, which did little to assuage conspiracy theorists who believe he was murdered. The memo’s conclusions disappointed conservative online investigators, particularly since Bondi had hinted earlier about significant findings within the Epstein case files.
Bondi attempted to clarify her previous comments regarding the FBI’s review of videos linked to Epstein, insisting that they pertained to existing case materials and not to a specific list of clients. She defended her earlier statements about the FBI’s examination of videos, which were ultimately found to be pornographic material associated with Epstein, without explaining why other files from the supposed “truckload” of evidence had not been shared.
The Justice Department’s refusal to release the desired documentation has ignited frustration among conservative advocates and online sleuths, leaving many unresolved questions about the contents and implications of the evidence in their quest for transparency surrounding Epstein’s case.