Former attorney general Pam Bondi has told lawmakers that Todd Blanche, the man Donald Trump plans to nominate as her permanent successor, was “in charge” of the US Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Bondi made the remarks during an appearance before the House oversight and reform committee, which is investigating the late financier and convicted sex offender.
According to a transcript released by the committee, Bondi stated that Blanche, who served as her deputy at the justice department, was responsible for the “entire release of the Epstein files”. Blanche was appointed acting attorney general after Bondi’s departure, and Trump has indicated he will nominate him for the role permanently.
Bondi defended the department’s actions under her leadership but distanced herself from the day-to-day handling of the files, saying she “delegated oversight over this process” to Blanche. She acknowledged “redaction errors” in the release but insisted the department was committed to accountability and transparency. Several lawmakers and survivors of Epstein’s abuse have criticised the department’s actions, including redactions and disclosure of sensitive personal information.
During the hearing, Bondi also said she was “not certain of the extent” that Trump knew about Epstein’s crimes before they became public. A White House spokesperson claimed Trump had been “totally exonerated” on the matter. Bondi declined to discuss her conversations with the president.
Bondi also told lawmakers she learned of the prison transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, through news reports and had “nothing to do with it”. She called Maxwell a “monster” and said she should “die in prison”.
