Former Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Todd Blanche, previously the Deputy Attorney General, was responsible for the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein during her congressional testimony on May 29. Bondi indicated that she delegated oversight of this process to Blanche. The House Oversight Committee released the transcript of Bondi's testimony shortly after President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Blanche as the permanent Attorney General, a move that has drawn criticism from lawmakers regarding the handling of the Epstein files.
Blanche has been serving as Acting Attorney General since April 2, following Bondi's dismissal. The Justice Department's management of the Epstein files and the elimination of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was criticized as a 'slush fund' for Trump supporters, has raised concerns among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Bondi's testimony highlighted Blanche's role in overseeing the release of millions of documents, including the redaction process. However, the Justice Department faced scrutiny for failing to adequately redact identifiable information from victims and for allegations of missing documents. A bipartisan group of senators requested an investigation into the Justice Department's redaction practices.
Despite the criticisms, Bondi defended Blanche's management of the Epstein files, stating that the error rate for redactions was low. She emphasized that Blanche performed well under challenging circumstances. Following her testimony, Bondi refuted claims that she was shifting blame onto Blanche, asserting that she praised his efforts.
Blanche's nomination is expected to face further scrutiny, particularly from Democrats questioning his ability to serve independently as Attorney General, given his previous role as Trump's defense attorney. Senator Adam Schiff has initiated an inquiry into allegations that Blanche may have disregarded ethics guidance related to his past work with Trump.
