Attorney General Pam Bondi canceled her scheduled appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)'s Summit Against Human Trafficking on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, citing recovery from a recently torn cornea, an ailment that prevented her from attending the event in Washington, D.C. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti announced Bondi's absence to the attendees, reading aloud her statement: "I'm sorry to miss all of my CPAC friends today… Unfortunately, I am recovering from a recently torn cornea, which is preventing me from being with you. I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue." The announcement was met with scattered applause, and Galeotti humorously noted, "We appreciate the applause for her and not boos for me. So I will do my best to fill those big shoes."
Bondi's cancellation came amid mounting scrutiny over the Trump administration's handling of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Bondi notified President Donald Trump in May 2025 that his name appeared multiple times in the Justice Department’s files concerning Epstein. Justice Department officials, including Bondi and her deputy, had described the volume of documents as a "truckload" and informed Trump that many other high-profile figures were also named in the files. However, officials emphasized that being mentioned in the records was not an indication of wrongdoing.
The Epstein case has been a source of intense controversy, especially after the FBI and Justice Department jointly declared earlier in July 2025 that Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 and that no incriminating "client list" existed. This statement sparked outrage among a faction of President Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters, who have long suspected a cover-up to protect influential individuals allegedly involved in Epstein's sex trafficking network.
Trump himself has sought to downplay the Epstein issue, dismissing it as irrelevant and criticizing Republicans who continue to press for the release of Epstein-related materials as "weaklings." At the White House, Trump stated, "He's dead. He's gone," and defended Attorney General Bondi's handling of the matter, saying she could release "whatever's credible" related to the case. Nonetheless, the administration's request to unseal transcripts from Florida grand jury proceedings into Epstein was denied by federal judges in New York and Florida, further frustrating calls for transparency.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee took steps to subpoena both the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s jailed associate, signaling ongoing congressional interest in the case. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, adjourned the lower chamber until September 2025, effectively blocking any immediate vote on releasing the Epstein documents.
Criticism of Bondi's role has come from various quarters. Right-wing podcaster Liz Wheeler, who was among several influencers invited to the White House in February 2025 to receive binders of Epstein documents already in the public domain, accused Bondi of "gross incompetence" and "severe lack of judgement" in how the information was handled. Wheeler said, "The base feels stung because we have not been told the truth and we associate the Epstein files now with the question of, are we going to get the justice we voted for? The American people feel that this is injustice. They feel that they are being played. They feel there is dishonesty afoot." She urged President Trump to no longer tolerate Bondi's behavior, emphasizing that "a true friend tells you the truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable, even when that truth might have consequences."
Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh also criticized Bondi on social media, declaring, "We don't have an Attorney General. We haven't had one for the past six months. Pam Bondi is Donald Trump's personal lawyer. Nothing more. We've normalized his corruption. And America will pay such a steep price for doing so. Shame on us." On Capitol Hill, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin accused Bondi and Trump of lying to the American people and eroding trust in the justice system.
Adding to the pressure for further investigation, Senator Ron Wyden, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Attorney General Bondi on Monday, July 21, 2025, urging a fresh probe into Epstein's financial dealings using Treasury Department documents. Wyden accused the Department of Justice of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into the funding of Epstein's sex trafficking operation, highlighting that four major banks processed "billions in suspicious transactions" related to Epstein that were not reported to the Treasury until after Epstein's death.
Wyden's letter outlined a seven-point action plan, urging Bondi to direct DOJ prosecutors and FBI agents to investigate evidence contained in Treasury records, including alleged payments of several hundred million dollars from "ultra-wealthy Wall Street financiers." He also called for subpoenas of internal records from major Western banks, investigations into payments of "hundreds of millions of dollars" routed through Russian banks correlated with the movement of women and girls worldwide, and scrutiny of documents from the U.S. Virgin Islands regarding immunity deals granted to Epstein associates in 2023.
Wyden emphasized that several banks "likely broke the law" by only flagging suspect payments after Epstein was criminally charged, violating federal anti-money laundering laws. He recommended depositions of bankers responsible for overseeing large accounts linked to Epstein. Wyden stated, "Epstein clearly had access to enormous financing to operate his sex trafficking network, and the details on how he got the cash to pay for it are sitting in a Treasury Department filing cabinet."
The Epstein scandal has caused deep divisions within Trump's base, with some supporters accusing Bondi and other officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, of orchestrating a cover-up. The controversy continues to cast a shadow over the administration, as calls for transparency and justice grow louder.
Despite the turmoil, other Trump administration officials, such as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan, spoke at the CPAC event, underscoring the administration's ongoing commitment to combatting human trafficking. However, Bondi's absence was a notable gap, especially given the heightened attention on her role in the Epstein matter.
As the Epstein case remains unresolved in the eyes of many, the coming months will likely see intensified political and legal battles over the release of documents and the pursuit of accountability. With congressional investigations underway and public pressure mounting, the Trump administration faces a critical test in addressing one of the most controversial and sensitive issues of its tenure.
