Jeffrey Epstein files: AG slammed over ‘botched’ release of flight logs and client list with ENTIRE pages blacked out
ATTORNEY General Pam Bondi has been slammed over the botched release of the Jeffrey Epstein files as hundreds of pages were heavily redacted and thousands more remain missing.
Despite much anticipation of the highly sought-after documents connected to the notorious pedophile, the trove of records failed to reveal any bombshell names.
Bondi teased that the hundreds of pages connected to Epstein would disclose "a lot of names and information."
However, the long-awaited documents did not include any new details and the contents included in the records had been circulating for years.
Hundreds of pages appeared blacked out, and others did not include any new shocking details about Epstein's sex trafficking case.
In a scathing letter to Director Kash Patel, Bondi accused the federal agency's New York field office of withholding thousands of pages connected to Epstein.
Bondi gave Patel a new deadline of 8 am on February 28 to hand over the documents to the Department of Justice.
The documents were expected to drop after a group of people were seen at holding four white binders titled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1."
But a letter posted on X by a conservative influencer on Thursday afternoon revealed the delay.
Bondi "repeatedly questioned" the full set of documents and whether there may be others in existence, she wrote in the letter.
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"Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein.
"Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information," Bondi wrote to Patel.
Along with requesting all Epstein files, Bondi also ordered an investigation into the 's handling of the documents.
, 66, was a wealthy financier who socialized with celebrities, royalty, and other high-profile individuals before his arrest in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges in .
Details about Epstein's associates who visited his private island in the US Virgin Islands and flew on his private jet have been a pressing topic since his arrest and death.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have urged the Department of Justice to unseal any remaining documents related to Epstein's federal sex trafficking case.
Face-to-face with Epstein
Lawyer Spencer Kuvin met Epstein several times, and he opened up about the disturbing interactions with the billionaire in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
Kevin said, "From the times I met him and deposed him, and set in mediations with him, he never, ever struck me as someone who questioned whether he had done anything wrong.
"He was always overly self-confident in what he had done and his belief that he had never done anything inappropriate at all, ever.
"There was never any inclination that he ever felt he wasn't going to get out.
"He always felt 'this is something I got to go through, I'll be out of here in a flash, it's not a big deal.'
"So it was rather surprising to me when he died in jail."
Full list of celebs mentioned in Epstein docs
From A-list actors to public intellectuals, a broad mix of people have been linked to Epstein.
Here is the full list of celebrities mentioned in the docs.
- Prince Andrew
- Bill Clinton
- Stephen Hawking
- Michael Jackson
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Cate Blanchett
- Bruce Willis
- Donald Trump
- David Copperfield
- Al Gore
- Naomi Campbell
- George Lucas
- Cameron Diaz
- Kevin Spacey
Sick threats
A 2015 lawsuit filed by accuser Virginia Giuffre highlighted the sick threats that Epstein would allegedly use to keep clients quiet.
In depositions that were unsealed last month, wealthy people opened up on how the disgraced financier stopped them from coming forward.
"Epstein said things like, 'You're going to die; I'm going to break your legs,'" the lawsuit claimed.
Giuffre's lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount of money in 2017.
FBI sued
Last year, the FBI was sued by 12 of Epstein’s alleged victims, who accused the bureau of botching its investigation into the financier.
The lawsuit states, “Jeffrey Epstein’s penchant for teenage girls was an open secret in the high society of Palm Beach, Florida and the Upper East Side of Manhattan which was disregarded by the FBI.
“Epstein orchestrated an illegal sex trafficking ring for the elite and the FBI failed to adequately investigate the abuse, failed to interview the victims, failed to investigate the crimes and did not follow routine procedure or offer victim assistance notwithstanding credible reports and tips.”
The FBI has previously said it can’t comment on the ongoing litigation.
'Distraction'
A senior Justice Department official told they believe the "purpose and timing" of the release of the Epstein documents by Attorney General Pam Bondi are "a distraction" from other matters.
Jeffrey Epstein showed in a sketch image from a status hearing in his sex trafficking case in New York City in July 2019Credit: REUTERS 'Little new information to be released'
Despite Bondi promising to release the "thousands" of pages of material that were allegedly withheld by the FBI's field office in New York, two DOJ officials told there would be "very little new information" included.
Two senior Justice Department officials told the outlet that "there would be very little new information in any release, given how much has already been made public."
A conservative influencer carrying a binder outside of the White House that was titled 'The Epstein Files: Phase 1'Credit: Getty 'Little new information to be released'
Despite Bondi promising to release the "thousands" of pages of material that were allegedly withheld by the FBI's field office in New York, two DOJ officials told there would be "very little new information" included.
Two senior Justice Department officials told the outlet that "there would be very little new information in any release, given how much has already been made public."
A conservative influencer carrying a binder outside of the White House that was titled 'The Epstein Files: Phase 1'Credit: Getty Masseuses list blacked out
In addition to the evidence list, flight log, and Epstein's vast contact book, a masseuse list was also released as part of the trove of documents.
However, all 254 names on the list were redacted because they are victims.
The list contained seven pages that were all blacked out.
Friday, 8 am deadline
Attorney General Bondi gave FBI Director Patel a new deadline of 8 am on February 28 to hand over the "withheld" documents.
However, as of 10:45 am, it's unclear if the Department of Justice was in possession of the missing material.
Attorney General Pam Bondi listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after Tulsi Gabbard is sworn in as Director of National Intelligence on February 12Credit: Getty
Redacted pages
Hundreds of pages released in the trove of documents were either redacted or indecipherable.
Pam Bondi rips FBI Director Kash Patel
In a scathing letter, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused FBI Director Kash Patel and the federal agency's field office in New York of withholding thousands of pages connected to Epstein's case.
The scathing letter Pam Bondi addressed to FBI Director Kask PatelCredit: Attorney General Pam Bondi rips FBI Director Kash Patel
In a scathing letter, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused FBI Director Kash Patel and the federal agency's field office in New York of withholding thousands of pages connected to Epstein's case.
The scathing letter Pam Bondi addressed to FBI Director Kask PatelCredit: Attorney General MAGA fury
On February 27, the DOJ shared a link of the release of the "first phase" of the Epstein files.
"Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files," the department wrote on X.
Bondi was caught in the middle of a MAGA firestorm after the documents failed to reveal any new shocking detail and were heavily redacted.
"Weird, I guess the entire masseuse list contains victims only, huh?" one person white sharing a picture of four completely blacked out pages from the Epstein documents.
"What's this?" another wrote while sharing a of a page that featured Donald Trump's name with a large blacked out box underneath.
A third blasted the DOJ for releasing the documents to selected conservative influencers first and not the public.
"The full list should’ve been released to ALL media and the public, not just select conservative influencers and journalists, who should’ve refused to participate in this dog and pony show," the woman wrote on .
"Prosecute the pedophiles on the list and fire whoever sent that tacky video from the House Judiciary GOP."
Hundreds of pages released as part of the Epstein files were heavily redactedCredit: U.S. Department of Justice DOJ slammed over redacted documents
The highly anticipated release by the Department of Justice proved to be a huge disappointment to many.
Much of the information released in the trove of records was already released by prior rulings in civil litigations.
Epstein's contact book included high-profile names such as, Donald Trump, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and model Naomi Campbell.
The names were already known and disclosed to the public in previous documents released by a judge in 2024.
An undated photo of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein released by the Department of Justice in 2022Credit: PA Kash Patel promises 'accountability'
Kash Patel released a lengthy statement on X after Attorney General Pam Bondi accused his agency of withholding "thousands of pages" connected to Jeffrey Epstein's federal sex trafficking case.
"The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice<" Patel wrote on X.
"There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued.
"If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be.
"The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise."
Kash Patel speaks during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada in October 2022Credit: Getty
'A COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT'
Anna Paulina Luna, the Representative from Florida who is leading the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, slammed the files.
Luna wrote Thursday in a post on X, "THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment.
"GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!"
What was released?
The documents included copies of flight logs from Epstein’s private plane - but these have already been publicly available.
A heavily redacted photocopy of an address book was also released, although it has been cited in media accounts for the past several years.
The Justice Department also released a blacked-out list of masseuses and an evidence list of more than 150 items.
More files released
The US justice department has released additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The justice department confirmed on Thursday evening that many of the documents were “previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the US government.”
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators."
'MAGA War'
In a scathing letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the federal agency's field office in New York of withholding "thousands of documents" related to Jeffrey Epstein's case.
Bondi wrote how she was "just as surprised" that Patel never disclosed the records to her during their conservation on Wednesday.
"Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein," Bondi wrote to Patel.
The attorney general said she was only given 200 pages when she approached the agency for the full set of documents related to their investigation of Epstein.
Bondi gave Patel a new deadline of 8 am on February 28 to handover the documents.
Kash Patel pictured outside Capitol Hill in December 2021Credit: Getty Democrats call on AG Pam Bondi to release docs
Democrats have also advocated for the information related to Jeffrey Epstein to be made public.
Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar wrote on X on Tuesday that Bondi "still not releasing the EPSTEIN FILES is weird and raises the question of who she might be protecting."
The X account for the Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats posted, "Pam Bondi is sitting on the Epstein files right now. What're you waiting for?"
Royal link
One of the most high-profile names that has long been linked to Jeffrey Epstein is Prince Andrew.
The Duke of York, 65, has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew was forced to step aside from public duties in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein.
Attorney Spencer Kuvin, who represented many of Epstein's victims, previously The Sun how one of his clients said she saw Prince Andrew at a party filled with underage girls.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly claimed he knew nothing of Epstein's criminal behavior despite their close relationship.
Kuvin branded the Duke of York's failure to tell authorities what he knows about Epstein an "insult" to victims.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein go for a stroll together through New York Cityâs Central ParkCredit: Jae Donnelly
Royal link
One of the most high-profile names that has long been linked to Jeffrey Epstein is Prince Andrew.
The Duke of York, 65, has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew was forced to step aside from public duties in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein.
Attorney Spencer Kuvin, who represented many of Epstein's victims, previously The Sun how one of his clients said she saw Prince Andrew at a party filled with underage girls.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly claimed he knew nothing of Epstein's criminal behavior despite their close relationship.
Kuvin branded the Duke of York's failure to tell authorities what he knows about Epstein an "insult" to victims.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein go for a stroll together through New York Cityâs Central ParkCredit: Jae Donnelly In Denial
In his new memoir Citizen, which was released last November, former President Bill Clinton addressed the controversial link with Jeffrey Epstein.
Clinton admitted in the book that he flew on Epstein’s private jet in 2002 and 2003.
He also claimed Epstein offered the use of his plane in support of Clinton’s foundation and they spoke about economics and politics.
After that, Clinton says the pair had only two “brief” meetings, in Clinton’s office in Harlem and Epstein’s New York home.
But he dismisses allegations that he ever visited Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.
“I had always thought Epstein was odd but had no inkling of the crimes he was committing,” Clinton wrote.
“He hurt a lot of people, but I knew nothing about it, and by the time he was first arrested in 2005, I had stopped contact with him. I’ve never visited his island.”
Bill Clinton posing with Jeffrey Epstein on board his private jet, the Lolita Express, during a 2002 trip to AfricaCredit: Netflix Bondi slams FBI's handling of docs
In her letter, posted to by conservative influencer Emily Austin, Bondi also questioned why her initial deadline wasn't met.
"I am also directing you to conduct an immediate investigation into why my order to the FBI was not followed," Bondi wrote in the letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel.
"You will deliver to me a comprehensive report of your findings and proposed personnel action within 14 days," Bondi ordered.
Docs release delayed
Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the release of the Epstein files has been delayed.
Bondi sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel stating that she has not yet received all the docs she asked for.
The letter further stated that the FBI has until February 28 at 8 a.m. to submit all documents relating to the Epstein probe.