President Donald Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi from mounting criticism over her handling of the federal government’s files related to Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday, attempting to quell Republican infighting over the investigation.
“The attorney general has handled that very well. She’s really done a very good job, and I think that when you look at that, you’ll understand it,” Trump told reporters Tuesday afternoon at the White House, adding that “credibility is very important.”
Prominent MAGA activists, including far-right commentator Laura Loomer, have called on Bondi to step down after she reportedly clashed with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the administration’s handling of the files. The Trump administration said last week it found no evidence of an incriminating client list held by Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019.
Trump also repeated unfounded claims that the files were “made up” by Democrats — including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former FBI Director James Comey — adding that he had received a “very quick briefing” on the files from Bondi.
“We went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, with all of the different things that we had to go through,” Trump said. “We’ve gone through years of it, but she’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her. Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”
Bondi, Patel, Bongino and other administration officials repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories surrounding the death of and criminal investigation into the disgraced financier and convicted sex criminal in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.