US President backs Attorney General Pam Bondi amid Epstein file controversy

President Donald Trump has defended Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, amid growing backlash from within his own political base. The controversy stems from Bondi’s department stating that there is no credible evidence of a “client list” tied to the late convicted sex offender, contradicting earlier expectations.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said Bondi should “release whatever she thinks is credible” and praised her conduct, saying, “She’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her.” When asked whether Bondi had told him if his name appeared in any of the files, Trump responded, “No, no.”

Trump, who previously promised transparency around Epstein’s activities during his 2024 campaign, appeared to walk back that urgency, questioning the public’s continued interest in the case. “I don’t understand what the fascination is. It’s sordid but boring,” he said, adding that “only really bad people, including the fake news, want to keep something like this going.”

The comments come in the wake of a Department of Justice and FBI memo released earlier this month. The memo stated that investigators found no incriminating client list and no evidence of blackmail against powerful individuals. It also affirmed the official cause of Epstein’s death as suicide, supported by video evidence from his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York.

Despite the findings, conspiracy theories persist, particularly among Trump’s “Make America Great Again” supporters, who suspect influential figures are being protected. Notably, Trump allies such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump have called for full disclosure of the case’s records.

Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, came under renewed scrutiny after a February interview where she told Fox News that the purported client list was “sitting on my desk.” Her office later clarified that she was referring to the broader Epstein case files, not a specific list of names.

Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino, both now aligned with the Trump administration, had earlier expressed skepticism about Epstein’s death but now support the conclusion that it was a suicide.

As divisions widen within Trump’s circle over how to handle the Epstein fallout, the former president appears eager to shift focus. However, the issue continues to stir controversy and calls for accountability from both his allies and critics.