5 takeaways from Pam Bondi’s Home Oversight Committee transcript in Epstein probe
The Home Oversight Committee on Thursday launched the transcript of former Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi’s closed-door interview with lawmakers investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The 111-page transcription of Bondi’s Could 29 interview, which was not recorded on video, reveals the previous lawyer defending the Trump administration’s dealing with of recordsdata associated to the infamous convicted intercourse offender, whereas refusing to reply quite a few questions on any conversations she might have had with President Trump concerning the matter.
Listed below are 5 key takeaways from the transcript:
Blanche was ‘in cost’ and did ‘a superb job’
“As the top of a big division with broad obligations, I didn’t lead each facet of this effort nor conduct that doc assessment myself,” Bondi instructed congressional investigators. “I delegated that oversight over this course of to Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche.”
Blanche, who’s now appearing lawyer common and Trump’s choose to steer the DOJ on a everlasting foundation, was talked about by Bondi 96 occasions throughout the roughly four-hour-long listening to.
“He was in command of the method and the complete launch of the Epstein recordsdata,” the previous lawyer common mentioned at one other level within the listening to.
Bondi famous that she was not attempting accountable her successor for “something” associated to the dealing with of the paperwork.
“He managed this investigation — and it was a Herculean job — with little or no error,” she mentioned. “And Todd did a superb job, for my part, and is doing a superb job as our Legal professional Basic.
“I’m not blaming something on Todd.”
Bondi realized of Maxwell’s jail switch from the information
The previous lawyer common insisted that she had “nothing to do with” Ghislaine Maxwell being moved to a comfortable jail camp final 12 months – days after Epstein’s convicted confederate met with Blanche.
“I examine it within the newspaper, or on-line, after it occurred. I had nothing to do with that,” Bondi mentioned.
“I don’t wish to speculate, however I consider it was for safety causes,” she added. “You’d need to ask the Bureau of Prisons that query.”
‘Monster’ Maxwell ought to ‘die in jail’
Bondi was requested throughout the closed-door interview if Maxwell, who was convicted of recruiting minors for Epstein to sexually abuse, ought to obtain a presidential pardon.
“No. I consider she ought to die in jail,” Bondi responded.
“She was a monster, identical to Jeffrey Epstein,” the previous lawyer common continued. “She recruited these younger girls to a lifetime of prostitution and abuse.
“And I typically assume the ladies that do which might be simply as dangerous, if not worse, than the boys, as a result of she participated in it.”
Bondi insists there are not any excellent Epstein paperwork
The DOJ has launched all responsive materials associated to Epstein, in response to the previous AG.
“To my data, they’ve all been launched,” Bondi responded when requested if the DOJ remained in possession of any paperwork that might be required to be launched pursuant to the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency Act.
She famous that “roughly 3 million” pages of paperwork had been made public by the DOJ after the division initially recognized some 6 million doubtlessly responsive paperwork.
The discrepancy had led some Democrats, like Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the rating member on the oversight panel, to cost that “50 % of the Epstein recordsdata” are being withheld.
Bondi defined that these 3 million different pages ended up being “duplicative or privileged or utterly unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein.”
“The unredacted variations are additionally obtainable to Members of Congress, together with the duplicative materials, so — and I consider that’s nonetheless obtainable — so folks can — so Congress can go in and see for themselves the 6 million pages versus why 3 million was launched, and far of it was duplicative or privileged or utterly unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein,” she mentioned.
Bondi doesn’t dish on Trump
Bondi, who was fired from her DOJ perch in April, refused to debate any conversations she might have had with the president about Epstein or the recordsdata.
“I’m not going to debate any conversations that I’ve had with the President of america,” she mentioned, asserting government privilege.
