Does anyone believe Pam Bondi when she says it’s case closed on the Epstein Files?
Pam Bondi, US attorney general in Trump’s MAGA administration, has released what she claims is the complete list of people named in the Epstein Files, and says no more action will be taken. But with key names missing, and no prosecutions, what’s her plan here?
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In brief…
- Pam Bondi’s list of notable individuals named in the Epstein Files omits key names (such as Trump’s children), but includes people dead for decades and has been criticised for listing people others spoke to the paedophile about, alongside those alleged to have committed crimes.
- The News Agents say Bondi’s suggestion that the case is now closed “smells absolutely rotten” with no action taken by the Department of Justice on Epstein’s global sex trafficking.
- Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel say Bondi is trying, and failing, to mimic Trump techniques in shutting down a conversation, but that the administration is deeply out of step with public opinion.
What’s the story?
Pam Bondi says the US Department of Justice has released every detail from the Epstein Files, and there’s nothing else to see. Case closed, time to move on.
The only problem is, no one really believes her.
A document released by the Department of Justice, signed by Bondi, claims to reveal all "politically exposed persons" who were named in the files more than once.
The extensive list names the likes of Cher, Beyonce, Princess Diana and Michelle Obama, Barbara Streisand alongside those alleged of crimes, such as President Donald Trump.
There is no context about how, or why, any of these people were mentioned, and being named in the Epstein Files does not mean they are involved or have committed a crime.
“Pam Bondi's Valentine's Day present to America was to say: 'That's it. No more. That's it. We're done now,” says Jon Sopel.
“Biden's children are named in her list, but none of Donald Trump's children are – and they are named in the files. Why haven't those names been released, while others have been made public?
“It smells absolutely rotten.”
Bondi’s Valentine’s gift comes hot off the heels of a disastrous appearance in front of Congress, where she insisted stock markets were more important than Epstein survivors and refused to face victims in the room.
“That was saying the quiet bit out loud,” Jon adds.
“Was she really saying that rape is ok because we're all getting wealthy as hell, because the stock market is rising?”
Is Pam Bondi trying a Trump technique to get out of hot water?
As far as the attorney general is concerned, the Epstein Files have been dealt with.
As far as Emily Maitlis is concerned, she’s just trying to protect Donald Trump – and is copying his own methods to try to achieve that.
“What Trump has masterfully managed to do over the years is just spit back,” Emily says.
“He never really apologises. He never really explains. He just braves it out. She's trying to do that now – and it's just not really working.
“She's still covering for him.”
Jon says that aside from the “distasteful” nature of trying to sweep the Epstein Files under the rug, there is a question over whether Bondi’s actions make political sense.
Not only has there been fierce criticism from Democrats on Bondi’s actions over Epstein, but also Republicans.
These include Marjorie Taylor Greene, formerly a MAGA cheerleader, but who has now broken with Trump to campaign for the full release of the Epstein Files. She claims Trump told her that doing so would “hurt” his friends.
“Donald Trump is at odds with public opinion in America,” Jon says.
“Those Congressmen and women in the Republican party didn't suddenly discover a backbone because they wanted to take on Donald Trump.
“They were aware that voters want to see what's in those files.”
Is there more to come from the Epstein Files?
Three million documents have been released – half of the six million that were submitted in November 2025 after Congress passed a law to make them public.
Experts believe even the six million makes up a tiny fraction of the full collection of evidence.
Additionally, what has been unsealed has left survivors’ details exposed while protecting alleged perpetrators with page after page of redactions.
“The identities of girls and young women who were sexually abused have been released – which was against the law – whereas some billionaires have had their names covered up,” says Jon.
“The whole process has been a mess.”
Emily says there’s a certain irony to how Trump’s MAGA administration is now trying to dupe the public into believing the process is complete.
“The point of releasing the papers was to get to the bottom of a cover up – but now it just looks like there's a cover up, of the cover up,” she adds.