Bondi Denies Possessing Epstein ‘Client List’ After Senate Hearing Pressure
Attorney General claims earlier remarks were misremembered as DOJ confirms no such list exists
At a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi emphatically denied claims that she held a Jeffrey Epstein “client list,” contradicting her earlier public remarks.
The shift follows a Department of Justice memorandum stating that no evidence of such a list ever existed.
Senator Dick Durbin pressed Bondi on remarks she made in February, when asked on national television if the DOJ would release Epstein’s client list.
At the time, Bondi responded, “It is sitting on my desk right now to review”.
But during the hearing, Bondi insisted she had never reviewed or possessed any such list, clarifying that she had instead said she had “not yet reviewed” the materials.
The DOJ and FBI’s newly released memo dismantles the notion of a client list altogether.
It states that investigators found “no incriminating ‘client list’” and uncovered “no credible evidence” that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.
The memo also affirmed that no additional files related to Epstein would be made public, citing privacy and legal constraints.
Bondi’s earlier statement that she had the list on her desk helped fuel speculation among supporters and conspiracy theorists that she would unmask high-profile figures implicated in Epstein’s network.
The administration’s sharp reversal has provoked criticism from both sides of the aisle, with Democrats accusing Trump’s DOJ of misleading the public and Republicans defending Bondi as navigating an unearthing of sensitive records under intense pressure.
During the hearing, Bondi also confronted questions about her leadership of the Justice Department, including alleged political interference in prosecutorial decisions and troop deployments in major U.S. cities.
She defended the department’s direction as a reset that prioritizes “real crime” and rejected accusations of weaponizing federal power.
The episode highlights the unresolved tension between expectations of accountability in the Epstein case and the DOJ’s position of limited disclosure.
With Bondi’s original promise now rescinded, public trust in how the administration handles sensitive investigations faces a pivotal test.
The DOJ’s position is clear: no Epstein client list exists, and no records will be released beyond what has already been disclosed.
Bondi maintained today that she is committed to upholding Justice Department integrity amid intense scrutiny.
The shift follows a Department of Justice memorandum stating that no evidence of such a list ever existed.
Senator Dick Durbin pressed Bondi on remarks she made in February, when asked on national television if the DOJ would release Epstein’s client list.
At the time, Bondi responded, “It is sitting on my desk right now to review”.
But during the hearing, Bondi insisted she had never reviewed or possessed any such list, clarifying that she had instead said she had “not yet reviewed” the materials.
The DOJ and FBI’s newly released memo dismantles the notion of a client list altogether.
It states that investigators found “no incriminating ‘client list’” and uncovered “no credible evidence” that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.
The memo also affirmed that no additional files related to Epstein would be made public, citing privacy and legal constraints.
Bondi’s earlier statement that she had the list on her desk helped fuel speculation among supporters and conspiracy theorists that she would unmask high-profile figures implicated in Epstein’s network.
The administration’s sharp reversal has provoked criticism from both sides of the aisle, with Democrats accusing Trump’s DOJ of misleading the public and Republicans defending Bondi as navigating an unearthing of sensitive records under intense pressure.
During the hearing, Bondi also confronted questions about her leadership of the Justice Department, including alleged political interference in prosecutorial decisions and troop deployments in major U.S. cities.
She defended the department’s direction as a reset that prioritizes “real crime” and rejected accusations of weaponizing federal power.
The episode highlights the unresolved tension between expectations of accountability in the Epstein case and the DOJ’s position of limited disclosure.
With Bondi’s original promise now rescinded, public trust in how the administration handles sensitive investigations faces a pivotal test.
The DOJ’s position is clear: no Epstein client list exists, and no records will be released beyond what has already been disclosed.
Bondi maintained today that she is committed to upholding Justice Department integrity amid intense scrutiny.
