Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is heading toward a difficult Senate confirmation battle after former Attorney General Pam Bondi told Congress that he oversaw the Justice Department’s release of millions of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.
The issue could complicate Blanche’s nomination to permanently lead the Justice Department because lawmakers in both parties have criticized the Epstein file rollout, including redaction mistakes, missing documents and questions over whether the department fully complied with transparency requirements.
Bondi made the comments during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on May 29. The committee released the transcript shortly after President Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Blanche as permanent attorney general. ABC News reported that Bondi said Blanche “was leading the Epstein matter and the release of everything from the beginning.”
Bondi said she did not personally lead every part of the review because of the size and scope of the Justice Department. Instead, she said she delegated oversight of the Epstein document process to Blanche, who was deputy attorney general at the time.
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According to The Guardian, Bondi testified that Blanche was responsible for managing the release, while she defended his work and described the task as “Herculean.” She also acknowledged that redaction errors occurred but said the department had worked to correct mistakes.
The transcript places Blanche at the center of one of the Justice Department’s most politically sensitive controversies. The Epstein files have been the subject of intense public pressure for years, with lawmakers, victims’ advocates and the public demanding more transparency about Epstein’s network, the government’s handling of the case and whether powerful individuals were shielded.
The controversy intensified after the Justice Department and FBI issued a joint statement saying they found no evidence that Epstein maintained a formal “client list.” Bondi testified that the statement was written by Blanche, not by her, according to reports on the transcript.
That distinction matters because Trump administration officials had previously suggested that major Epstein-related disclosures were coming. Bondi had once said the Epstein files were “sitting on her desk,” later clarifying that she meant the broader case files rather than a specific client list.
Blanche later oversaw the release of millions of pages of Epstein-related records after Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. CBS News reported in January that Blanche announced the release of more than 3 million pages related to the Epstein investigation.
But the rollout quickly drew criticism. Some documents reportedly included information that should have been redacted to protect victims. Other records appeared heavily redacted, while lawmakers questioned whether certain documents were missing altogether.
Those concerns led a bipartisan group of senators to request a Government Accountability Office review of the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files. The Daily Record reported that senators asked the GAO to examine whether DOJ had properly complied with the law governing the release.
The issue now follows Blanche into his confirmation process. Senators are likely to press him on how the redaction process was managed, why errors occurred, whether all required records were released and whether the department properly protected Epstein victims’ privacy.
Bondi did not blame Blanche for the controversy. She praised him during her testimony, saying he managed the work with limited error and had done an excellent job. After the transcript drew attention, Bondi publicly denied claims that she was trying to shift blame onto him.
Still, the timing is difficult for Blanche. Trump announced his intention to nominate him as permanent attorney general after Bondi was dismissed in April. Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April 2 and has already faced questions over the Justice Department’s political independence.
The Epstein file issue is not the only controversy likely to come up during confirmation. Blanche also drew bipartisan scrutiny over the administration’s proposed “anti-weaponization” fund, a nearly $1.8 billion proposal critics described as a possible taxpayer-funded benefit for Trump allies and people who claimed they were politically targeted by the government.
PBS reported that Blanche faced senators in May over the weaponization fund, Epstein-related questions and Justice Department budget issues.
The fund became a major flashpoint in the Senate, with some Republicans expressing concern that January 6 defendants convicted of assaulting police could seek compensation. Blanche later told lawmakers that the department was no longer moving forward with the fund.
Democrats are also expected to examine Blanche’s past work as Trump’s personal defense attorney. Sen. Adam Schiff has raised questions about whether Blanche followed ethics guidance regarding recusal from matters involving Trump, according to reports.
That line of questioning could become central to the confirmation fight. Critics argue that an attorney general must show independence from the president, especially when the nominee previously represented him personally. Blanche’s supporters argue that he is an experienced prosecutor and lawyer who has been unfairly targeted because of his association with Trump.
The White House has defended Blanche strongly. A spokesperson called him an “American patriot” and said he has done excellent work at the Justice Department. Blanche has said he is honored by Trump’s nomination and has pledged to work across the aisle if confirmed. The New York Post reported that Blanche listed fraud, violent crime, drug trafficking and illegal immigration as priorities.
For Republican senators, the confirmation vote may create competing pressures. Many support Trump’s Justice Department agenda, but some have already shown discomfort with the anti-weaponization fund and the Epstein files rollout. Democrats, meanwhile, are likely to focus on transparency, ethics and whether Blanche can act independently from Trump.
The Epstein files remain especially sensitive because the case involves victims of sexual abuse and years of public distrust over how powerful people connected to Epstein were treated. Any sign of mishandling, excessive secrecy or inadequate victim protection is likely to receive sharp scrutiny.
Blanche’s challenge will be to convince senators that the document release was handled responsibly despite acknowledged errors, and that he can lead the Justice Department without political favoritism.
His confirmation fight is expected to become one of the most closely watched Justice Department battles of Trump’s second term.
Why It Matters
Blanche’s role in the Epstein files release matters because the Justice Department’s handling of the documents has drawn criticism from both parties. Senators are likely to demand answers about redactions, missing records and victim privacy before deciding whether to confirm him as attorney general.
It also matters because Blanche already faces questions over his independence after previously serving as Trump’s personal lawyer. The Epstein files and anti-weaponization fund controversies could make his confirmation process far more difficult.
What Comes Next
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to question Blanche about the Epstein file rollout, the redaction process, the anti-weaponization fund and his ethics obligations involving Trump-related matters.
If confirmed, Blanche would become Trump’s permanent attorney general. If senators from either party withhold support, his nomination could face delays or a tougher floor vote.
In a C-SPAN clip, Rep. Robert Garcia questioned whether Pam Bondi was placing responsibility for the Epstein files rollout on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a claim Bondi disputed.
.@RepRobertGarcia (D-CA) outside former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s deposition in Epstein probe: “She continues to push all of the investigation and the blame on Acting AG Todd Blanche.” pic.twitter.com/cqDuXUTbZs
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 29, 2026
