Acting AG Blanche Denies Bondi Firing Was About Epstein Files

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on Fox News on April 3 to address widespread speculation that President Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi over her handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related document releases, calling the claims “simply not true.”¹

“I never heard President Trump say that this had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche told the network. “This is a narrative being pushed by people who want to distract from the work this department is doing.”¹

DOJ Done With Epstein Files

In the same appearance, Blanche made a declaration that drew immediate attention from survivor advocates and transparency groups. He stated that the Department of Justice had completed its Epstein document releases and that the files “should not be a part of anything going forward.”¹

“The department has been transparent,” Blanche said. “We have released what was required. It is time to move on to the important work of this department.”¹

The statement appeared to signal a shift in DOJ posture on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires the release of federal records related to Epstein’s crimes and associates. Lawmakers and legal experts have said millions of pages of documents remain unreleased.

Contradicting Reports

Blanche’s account conflicted with reports from multiple news organizations. CNN reported that Trump told associates the firing was directly connected to his frustration with how Bondi handled the Epstein file releases, with one source saying the president felt Bondi had “made him look bad.”²

Additional reporting indicated that Trump had been angered by media coverage of documents containing references to his past social interactions with Epstein, coverage that intensified during Bondi’s tenure.

A senior administration official who spoke to CNN on background said the Epstein files were “definitely part of the conversation” leading up to Bondi’s dismissal, though the official said other factors also contributed.²

Reaction From Lawmakers

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said Blanche’s statement that the DOJ was finished releasing documents was “alarming and potentially unlawful.”

“The Transparency Act does not give the attorney general discretion to decide when the releases are done,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA). “The law is clear about what must be disclosed.”

Republican members of the committee did not immediately comment on Blanche’s declaration regarding the end of document releases.

Survivor Response

Survivor advocacy organizations criticized Blanche’s framing. The Survivors of Epstein Network released a statement saying it was “deeply troubling” that the acting attorney general appeared to be closing the door on further transparency.

“Telling the American people it is time to ‘move on’ from accountability for the most well-connected sex trafficker in modern history is not the job of the attorney general,” the statement read.

Legal analysts noted that Blanche’s declaration could face legal challenge if advocacy groups or lawmakers sought to compel further releases under the Transparency Act. The law’s enforcement mechanisms remain largely untested in court.¹

References

1. Fox News — “Acting AG Blanche denies Bondi firing was about Epstein files”
2. CNN — “Sources say Epstein files were factor in Bondi firing”