Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi has told lawmakers that Todd Blanche, whom President Donald Trump plans to nominate as her permanent replacement, was 'in charge' of the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Bondi made the remarks during a hearing 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'. She acknowledged 'there were redaction errors' in the release but insisted the department had been committed to accountability and transparency. Blanche was appointed acting attorney general after Bondi's ouster.
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 anything relating to Epstein'. Bondi declined to discuss any conversations with the president.
Bondi faced questions about the department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the release of Epstein-related records. Some lawmakers and survivors have criticised certain redactions and the disclosure of sensitive personal information. Bondi defended the department's actions but distanced herself from the review, saying she delegated oversight to Blanche.
When asked about Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking, Bondi called her a 'monster' and said she should 'die in prison'. Bondi also said she learned of Maxwell's controversial prison transfer through news reports and had 'nothing to do with that'. If formally nominated, Blanche would require Senate confirmation.
