Bondi out, Blanche in: what will a new justice department head mean for the Epstein investigation?

As news emerged this week presaging Donald Trump’s dismissal of Pam Bondi, one of his motivations reportedly related to her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigative files.

While the new acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, insisted he had “never” heard the president say “that anything that happened to her had anything to do with the Epstein files”, it’s clear the issue has dogged Bondi throughout her tumultuous tenure.

Indeed, Trump had repeatedly vowed his administration would release all Epstein documents – a promise that served as political manna for conspiracy-minded members of his rightmost base. Many ultra-conservative Trump supporters believe that Epstein’s abuse of teen girls was part of a sprawling sex-trafficking network of global elite.

Epstein counted numerous rich and powerful men as associates, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and, at one point, Trump. The president, who ended his friendship with Epstein in 2004 prior to the late sex trafficker’s sex offense conviction, has maintained that he did not engage in any wrongdoing related to him or in general.

The full Epstein dossier was not released by Bondi, as promised, spurring consternation from survivors and Congress members – and presenting a political liability for Trump. Congress’s Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which Trump signed despite his complaints that the Epstein controversy was a hoax, did little to quell ongoing backlash.

Bondi’s justice department repeatedly missed the EFTA’s disclosure deadlines – and faced accusations that some documents were withheld. Survivors’ and Congress members’ calls for transparency and justice grew louder.

Then came a congressional subpoena requiring that Bondi testify on 14 April, drawing still more attention to the handling of these files by Trump’s justice department. The president announced in a 2 April Truth Social post that Bondi was out as attorney general, praising her as a “Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” and saying “she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future”.

For some observers, Bondi’s ouster – which as of press time has not thwarted the subpoena – might seem like an opportunity for long-awaited accountability. Others, such as victim advocates and records experts, have voiced concern that Bondi is just one cog in a system that has failed survivors and subverted truth.

Spencer Kuvin, an attorney with Goldlaw who has represented numerous Epstein victims, is among them. Shortly before Bondi’s exit, Kuvin expressed skepticism about the efficacy of a subpoena, saying: “Given Attorney General Pam Bondi’s well-documented history of combative and evasive exchanges with Congress, there is little reason to expect that this subpoena will suddenly produce transparency.

“If past is prologue, we are more likely to see deflection than disclosure. That is deeply troubling, because the public – and more importantly, the victims – deserve straightforward answers about how and why the Epstein files have been handled the way they have,” he added. “At this point, confidence in a candid and complete accounting is, unfortunately, very low.”

After Bondi was booted, Kuvin continued to voice concern.

“This isn’t just about one official – it’s about a pattern of evasion. When the truth is delayed, deflected or buried, trust erodes. The public is still waiting for real accountability in the Epstein matter,” he said. “This moment underscores a larger problem: when those in power fail to be forthcoming with Congress and the American people, consequences eventually follow.”

Dr Ann Olivarius, founder of the law firm McAllister Olivarius and a longtime women’s rights attorney, said that prior to the firing that she had “no expectation of truth, accountability or remorse” during Bondi’s congressional testimony and that she “expects more defiance on her part”.

Annie Farmer, a survivor of Epstein and his imprisoned accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, said in a statement that Bondi’s departure is not a panacea.

“This is not about a single person; it is about a government and judicial system that has repeatedly failed Epstein survivors,” Farmer said. “Regardless of who holds power, survivors deserve accountability, transparency, protection from retaliation and assurance that those who enabled Epstein, Maxwell and others will be investigated and, if appropriate, prosecuted.”

As far as whether things will change under a new attorney general, some public records veterans expressed lukewarm reactions.

Roy Gutterman, who directs the Newhouse School’s Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University in New York, was asked about public records litigation in the Epstein files matter. American Oversight filed suit in September to compel the disclosure of records related to the Trump administration’s review of Epstein files; the non-partisan watchdog is seeking an emergency order to force the release of these records in advance of Bondi’s testimony.

“The release of more materials probably will not be the silver bullet that some folks are looking for. It does not seem like any of the releases thus far help put this puzzle together and I would be surprised if anything in this part of the litigation would get much released in time for the hearing or yield that piece of the puzzle that puts everything together and answers all the questions about the decision-making,” Gutterman said prior to Bondi’s firing.

“I would think that the attorney general will stand by every decision made on the release and not waver, regardless of what may or may not ultimately be revealed. Officials will probably stand by the invocation of [Freedom of Information Act] exemptions and other decisions they made regarding the documents as well.”

After news of Bondi’s departure emerged, Gutterman said he had the “same thoughts regardless of who the AG is”.

The news website Radar Online, which filed suit nearly nine years ago over the FBI’s failure to disclose Epstein files after a public records request, remains in litigation to obtain documents.

On 2 April, the second circuit court of appeals sent the case back to a lower federal court, “to consider whether [Radar]’s claims of relief have been rendered moot by the government’s release of documents pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act”.

“The saga continues,” a Radar spokesperson said. “Hopefully the new AG will take [a] more transparent approach.”

Carl Tobias, the University of Richmond School of Law’s Williams chair in law, was among those who felt that Bondi’s leaving could foster transparency.

“The House could now move the subpoena to Todd Blanche, who was actively involved, but Trump may appoint him AG,” he said.

“Her ouster could provide accountability and transparency, because the nominee will have to be confirmed by the Senate, and the judiciary committee [SJC] has many experienced, savvy members who will ask searching questions about the Epstein issues.

“If the nominee does not answer, members of SJC and the Senate could vote no.”

Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, said the organization was “heartened to see that Congress, in rare form, exercised their powers to conduct oversight by subpoenaing Attorney General Bondi”.

“That was the impetus for us going to court,” Chukwu said, pointing to Bondi’s prior appearances before Congress that yielded more conflict than information. “We knew that the only way to have a meaningful deposition of the attorney general would be to have the documentary evidence, the incontrovertible evidence that she cannot deny.”

As for whether Bondi’s replacement would do better with transparency, Chukwu said: “We are not naive. We have no illusions that this Department of Justice is going to transform as a result of Bondi’s ouster.”

“Bondi was just serving the interests of the president and doing what she believed he was asking of her, and, nevertheless, he discarded her,” Chukwu said. “Todd Blanche, the current No 2, has made very clear that his loyalties remain with the president.”

Despite these challenges, Chukwu said “we want people to keep hope alive,” saying that the Trump was particularly susceptible to public pressure.

Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House committee on oversight and reform, said in a statement that Bondi “will not escape accountability and remains legally obligated to appear before our committee under oath. She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell.”

James Comer, the House oversight and reform committee chair and a Trump ally, seems to think that Bondi’s deposition is not a done deal at this point.

“Since Pam Bondi is no longer attorney general, Chairman Comer will speak with Republican members and the Department of Justice about the status of the deposition subpoena and confer on next steps,” an oversight spokesperson said.

Anna Betts contributed reporting