President Donald Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to disclose “whatever she thinks is credible” regarding Jeffrey Epstein, following mounting frustration from some of his political base over the government’s handling of the case.
Bondi faced criticism after her department recently claimed there was no evidence of Epstein maintaining a “client list”, which seemed at odds with earlier remarks made by her and others close to the president who had previously demanded more openness on the issue.
Trump also remarked on Tuesday that he didn’t grasp “what the interest or what the fascination is” surrounding the case. He also backed Bondi, saying, “She’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her,” and added, “Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”
Responding to a journalist’s inquiry about whether the attorney general had indicated if his name appeared in any case documents, Trump replied, “No, no.”
He later doubled down, calling the topic “sordid but boring” and appeared annoyed by the ongoing public interest in the matter.
“Only really bad people, including the fake news, want to keep something like this going,” Trump said.
During his previous campaign, Trump had promised transparency regarding Epstein-related files. The subject has resurfaced this year, partly due to his public clash with a former adviser.
Despite Trump’s recent statements, several of his close political allies are still pushing for full disclosure.
The comments defending Bondi came after a reporter pointed out that even Lara Trump—his daughter-in-law—had expressed public support for greater transparency.
Epstein was found dead in 2019 inside a New York correctional facility while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death followed a prior conviction more than ten years earlier, in which he was registered as a sex offender after being found guilty of soliciting sex from a minor.
A recently released memo by federal investigators concluded there was no “incriminating list” of associates and “no credible evidence” that Epstein used blackmail against powerful individuals.
That same memo stated investigators had reviewed video footage that supported the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide while in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Nonetheless, speculation has persisted for years, with conspiracy theories suggesting Epstein may have been killed to keep him from revealing damaging information about elites across various sectors.
Although initially skeptical of official claims, senior FBI figures, including Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino, have since acknowledged that Epstein took his own life after assuming roles in the Trump administration.
According to the memo, authorities “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
Still, some members of Trump’s political movement remain convinced that vital information about Epstein’s activities is being deliberately withheld to protect high-profile individuals or intelligence institutions.
Lately, Trump has expressed irritation over the renewed focus on Epstein, encouraging the public to move forward, even as some conservative lawmakers demand accountability.
Tensions around Bondi escalated after remarks she made in February during a televised interview. Asked about the so-called Epstein client list, she responded, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.”
A spokesperson later clarified that she was referring more broadly to the case files and not to any specific list.
In a Tuesday interview with a conservative commentator, Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated that he believed Trump and his team were acting in good faith and had access to classified or confidential facts unknown to the general public.
Even so, he stated that Bondi “needs to come forward and explain it to everybody” and added, “We should put everything out there and let the people decide,” Johnson said.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also supported making Epstein-related documents public. While commending Bondi’s overall service, she emphasized that elected officials must keep their word.
Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert echoed this view and suggested appointing an independent counsel to delve deeper if more files are not unsealed.
Senator John Kennedy weighed in by saying Americans deserve clarity.
“I think it’s perfectly understandable that the American people would like to know who he [Epstein] trafficked those women to and why they weren’t prosecuted,” Kennedy said.
Still, others in the Republican party, including Senator John Thune and Representative Jim Jordan, deferred to Trump’s judgment and avoided pushing the issue further.
At a separate press event on fentanyl policy, Bondi declined to take questions about Epstein.
“Nothing about Epstein,” she told reporters. “I’m not going to talk about Epstein.”
She referenced the recent memo from the Justice Department and FBI, stating it “speaks for itself” and reiterated that no additional Epstein files would be released.
The findings were drawn from a thorough review of over 300 gigabytes of digital material, the memo noted.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers in the House attempted—but failed—to push forward a vote compelling the release of Epstein records. Republicans countered by pointing out that the current administration, led by President Joe Biden, also had full access to those files but did not make them public.
