Attorney General Bondi brushes aside questions about her handling of Epstein files

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday refused to address questions about her handling of the Justice Department’s files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation or about her reported rift with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

Bondi has come under intense criticism from many in the MAGA movement since the Justice Department released a memo last week detailing its review of the Epstein files. The two-page document said the department found no evidence of an Epstein client list and that no additional files from the investigation would be made public.

Those findings, which contradicted some of Bondi’s own past statements and promises of transparency, touched off fury among many supporters of President Trump. Some prominent figures in the MAGA faithful, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, have called for Bondi to resign.

At a news conference Tuesday at the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bondi was asked how she would respond to MAGA’s frustrations with her specifically.

“We’re going to fight to keep America safe again and we’re fighting together as a team. That’s what’s so important right now,” Bondi replied.

“We’ve got a war on drugs, we’ve got a war on human trafficking, we’ve got cartels in this country and we’ve got foreign adversaries around this world as well and we’re all going to work together as a team to fight to keep America safe again and I can tell you that’s what we’re all committed to.”

Despite Bondi’s efforts to move on, the Epstein matter is not going away. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a top Trump ally, threw his weight behind releasing the files.

“I’m for transparency,” Johnson told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Tuesday.

“It’s a very delicate subject but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,” Johnson said. “The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don’t know. I mean, this isn’t my lane and I haven’t been involved with that, but I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.”

A reported clash over personnel at the FBI

Bondi said she spent the morning working with FBI Director Kash Patel, but she would not address reports about a clash last week with Bongino, the FBI’s no. 2 official, over the Epstein files.

Asked whether Bongino should stay in his job, Bondi said: “I’m not going to discuss personnel matters.”

“I think we all are committed to working together now to make America safe again, and that’s what we’re doing,” she added.

All three top officials — Bondi, Patel and Bongino — have at one point or another stoked conspiracy theories about Epstein.

In February, Bondi said in response to a question from FOX News about Epstein’s client list that it was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”

Epstein died by suicide in a federal lockup in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sextrafficking charges. His death has been the source of conspiracy theories from the start, particularly on the far right, because of Epstein’s links to the rich and powerful.

Despite the calls from some in MAGA world for Bondi to step aside, she appears to continue to enjoy the president’s backing.

“The attorney general has handed that very well,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “She’s really done a very good job. I think when you look at it, you’ll understand that.”

Despite Trump and Bondi’s efforts to put the Epstein matter behind them, there’s little sign it’s going away.

 

Senate confirms Trump lawyer Emil Bove for appeals court

The Senate confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove as a federal appeals court judge as Republicans dismissed whistleblower complaints about his conduct at the Justice Department.

UCLA reaches $6 million settlement with Jewish students over campus protests

The settlement comes after Jewish students and a professor argued their civil rights were violated when pro-Palestinian protesters blocked access to campus buildings during 2024 demonstrations.

8.8-magnitude earthquake sets off tsunami warnings in Japan, Alaska and Hawaii

One of the world's strongest earthquakes struck Russia's Far East Wednesday, causing a tsunami in the northern Pacific region and setting off warnings for Alaska, Hawaii and south toward New Zealand.

Senators introduce resolution supporting prevention task force RFK Jr. may disband

The task force makes recommendations for medical screenings that doctors' groups rely on and that guide what preventive services most insurance covers without copay.

The Manhattan gunman believed he had CTE. What does that mean?

The gunman accused of killing four people in New York City suspected he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE — a degenerative brain disease often associated with football players.

In a first, the Senate confirms a new CDC director

Susan Monarez is the first director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to require Senate confirmation. She's also the first director without a medical degree in more than 70 years.

More Front Page Coverage