After Pam Bondi took over as U.S. attorney general last February, conservative influencers, online investigators and others pushing for a full government expose of U.S. financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein believed they had found an ally within the Justice Department.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired Attorney General Pam Bondi and appointed Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney, as acting Justice Department chief after months of strained relations.
The uproar over the “Epstein Files,” the name for the collection of investigative records, was not the only controversy during Bondi’s tenure. The sequence of events, initially building anticipation of major revelations, then claiming it was nothing major, and finally releasing a rushed and flawed set of documents, has remained a persistently troubling story throughout her tenure as attorney general.
Bondi dismissed criticism of her handling of the issue, while Trump praised her as a “great American patriot and loyal friend.”
Timeline: How the Epstein Files Haunted Her Time as US Attorney General
February 2025
Shortly after being confirmed as attorney general under a president who hinted during the campaign that more government records about Epstein might be released, Bondi raised expectations by saying on Fox News that “you’re going to see some Epstein information released.” When asked about the “release of the ‘Jeffrey Epstein client list,’ the widely reported but never publicly seen sex-trafficking list,” she said “it’s sitting on my desk right now.”
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The following day, conservative commentators and online creators were invited to the White House, where they were given Justice Department volumes labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified.”
However, the effort to emphasize transparency quickly backfired after it was revealed that most of the material was already publicly available. Bondi then urged the FBI to provide the “full and complete Epstein files”, later claiming to have uncovered a “load” of previously withheld documents, and asserting that “everything will come out”.
July
After months of build-up, the Justice Department announced it would not release any more material related to Epstein. In an unsigned memo, the agency explained that much of the evidence had been sealed by the court to protect victims and that “only a fraction” would be released if Epstein went to trial. She also said investigators had found no evidence to warrant new charges or further investigations, adding that “perpetuating baseless theories about Epstein” would not help the victims get justice, according to the AP.
The report further clarified that there is no “client list”. As for Bondi’s earlier comment that she had such a list on her desk, officials said she was referring to a broader file.
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The reversal drew criticism from conservative influencers and others who questioned Bondi’s credentials. However, Trump defended her and reprimanded a journalist who tried to raise the Epstein question during a White House cabinet meeting.
Although Trump previously questioned the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death in prison in 2019 while facing federal sex-trafficking charges, he later indicated that there was no further follow-up following the Justice Department’s release. He suggested that the country, including his supporters, move on from the matter.
November
As the steady stream of revelations began to have consequences for some influential figures, notably Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, former British Prince Andrew—Congress passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release its investigative files on Epstein. Trump signed the bill, which portrays the Epstein-related disclosure push as a distraction for Democrats from the Republican agenda.
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At the same time, Bondi announced at Trump’s behest that the U.S. attorney in Manhattan would investigate Epstein’s ties to several of the president’s political opponents, including former Democratic president Bill Clinton. None of these individuals have been charged with wrongdoing by Epstein’s accusers, and neither has Trump, also a former associate of Epstein’s. Both Clinton and Trump have said they were unaware of Epstein’s misconduct and cut ties with him years ago.
December
When the legal deadline for the release of Epstein’s files arrived, the Justice Department released only a portion of them. Although the tapes contained some previously unseen material — including candid photos of Clinton — they offered few major new revelations and contained little information about Trump.
The department said it is still reviewing other Epstein-related documents to ensure the victims’ identities and privacy are protected. But Democrats said it was a cover-up. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, accused the Justice Department of violating the law by missing a deadline and heavily redacting the material, while some of Epstein’s accusers also raised concerns about the extent of the redactions.
January 2026
The Justice Department began releasing a large number of additional documents, videos, and photographs related to Epstein, although some material was still withheld.
The records revealed a culture of favoritism and candid exchanges among an elite circle that overlooked Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to prostitution of a minor in Florida. As a result, several prominent associates of Epstein resigned or lost positions across the corporate sector, academia, major law firms and even within the British, Slovak and Norwegian governments.
However, the disclosures also exposed highly sensitive personal information about some victims, while continuing to redact the identities of Epstein’s correspondents in communications that appeared to refer to the sexual abuse of underage girls.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents several of Epstein’s victims, said Thursday that Bondi betrayed them by failing to adequately secure their personal information in the files released.
February
During the congressional hearings, a combative Bondi sought to diffuse the controversy surrounding Epstein’s writings. She defended the Justice Department’s handling of the matter, directed personal attacks on Democrats and praised Trump, including touting the stock market’s performance, the AP reported.
Bondi expressed deep sympathy for the suffering endured by Epstein’s victims. But she declined a request by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, to personally confront them and apologize for the department’s actions, and brushed aside Massie’s criticism of releasing victims’ personal information.
March
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a subpoena on April 14 demanding that Bondi testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein investigation and the release of related files. With five Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the move, the decision underscored widespread dissatisfaction, including among GOP supporters, with Bondi’s handling of the issue.
Meanwhile, Jess Michaels is among a number of women who have said they were sexually abused by the late financier and convicted sex offender, who was known for his connections to powerful figures in business, politics and other spheres.
After Trump announced Bondi’s ouster, Michaels said Thursday, “I thought, Well, maybe the woman who steps into this role will finally get the truth. She had an opportunity to be a hero and really do right by survivors of sexual assault and trafficking, and she chose not to.”
