Former Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Todd Blanche, previously second in command at the Justice Department, was responsible for overseeing the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein during her congressional hearing on May 29. Bondi indicated that she delegated the oversight of this process to Blanche. The House Oversight Committee released the transcript of Bondi's hearing shortly after President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Blanche as the permanent attorney general, which may complicate his confirmation due to bipartisan criticism regarding the handling of the Epstein files.
Blanche has been serving as Acting Attorney General since April 2, following Bondi's dismissal. The transcript indicates that Blanche was tasked with briefing Bondi on the release of the Epstein files. Bondi's testimony highlighted that Blanche was responsible for the oversight of the document release, which included determining redaction protocols and guidelines.
The Justice Department has faced scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein files, with allegations of failures in redacting identifiable information and missing documents. A bipartisan group of senators has requested an investigation into the department's redaction process. Bondi stated that she did not hold Blanche responsible for the redaction errors, citing a reported error rate of 1%.
Following her testimony, Bondi refuted claims that she was shifting blame onto Blanche, asserting that she praised his management of the task. A White House spokesperson also expressed confidence in Blanche's performance. However, Blanche's nomination is expected to face scrutiny from Democrats, particularly regarding his previous role as Trump's defense attorney and potential conflicts of interest.