Pam Bondi has come back into the spotlight after weeks of silence, trying to regain control amid the chaos caused by the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Her move? Installing a new deputy FBI director in a sudden shake-up that insiders say aims to limit damage and keep the Epstein files tightly controlled.
Bondi went quiet after furious backlash from Trump’s MAGA base, who accused her of breaking promises to release key Epstein investigation documents. The Justice Department’s July 7 memo, unsigned and quietly released, declared Epstein’s death a suicide and buried any hope of new information. That sparked outrage and forced Bondi into a near-monthlong media blackout.
Her return came with a bang: Bondi announced she was bringing Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey into a brand-new role as co-deputy FBI director, working alongside Dan Bongino. Sources say this move is a clear sign Bongino, who had a bitter fight with Bondi in July and nearly quit over the Epstein controversy, is being edged out.
One conservative ally told CNN, “It’s over. She made it through. She’s going to be fine.”
Despite Bondi’s absence, her Epstein troubles haven’t disappeared. When she tried to shift attention to other priorities—like the federal takeover of Washington, DC’s police force and drug seizures—reporters kept pressing on Epstein. At a drug enforcement press conference, the first question she faced was about Epstein, and her reply was blunt: “Nothing about Epstein, not gonna talk about Epstein.”
The shake-up at the FBI comes amid pressure from inside and outside the administration. House Republicans have subpoenaed the FBI’s Epstein investigation files, while Democrats promise to keep pressing Bondi and other officials in upcoming hearings.
Behind the scenes, some Trump allies had lost patience. Prominent MAGA figures like Laura Loomer called for Bondi’s firing. Megyn Kelly weighed in on social media, suggesting two possibilities: either there’s no big secret and Bondi just misled supporters, or there’s a cover-up directed from the top.
Even within the FBI, frustration grew over Bondi’s media blitz and the mishandling of the Epstein files. Some officials believed she should have focused on releasing the files instead of chasing TV appearances.
Earlier this year, Bondi handed out binders filled mostly with public documents, claiming they came from the FBI. But FBI insiders said the files wouldn’t reveal anything new. After the backlash, Bondi accused the FBI of withholding documents and ordered agents to work overtime to redact thousands of pages for release.
Bondi repeatedly promised conservative media that the files would come out. But by May, FBI leadership was preparing supporters for disappointment. The July 7 memo made it clear: the Justice Department wanted the Epstein case closed—and buried.
Still, Bondi’s loyalty to Trump kept her in the job. Known for her aggressive defense of the president and attacks on his opponents, she breaks from past attorneys general who tried to keep a distance from the White House.
Now, with Andrew Bailey’s appointment, Bondi appears to be fighting back—trying to control the Epstein fallout on her own terms. Whether she succeeds in burying the scandal or just deepens the controversy remains to be seen.
