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Attorneys general

Attorney General Pam Bondi's Silence on Fox News Amidst Epstein Files Controversy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Florida's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has been a regular commentator on Fox News, but she hasn't appeared on the network since June 30, following the backlash to the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The controversy began when the Justice Department and FBI released a memo that poured cold water on the theory that Epstein had a client list, concluded that he died in a New York jail cell by suicide, and said that no further documents in the case would be released to the public. Bondi's comment, made in February, that the Epstein files were sitting on her desk to review, came back to haunt her, and she has since been criticized for her role in the controversy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Attorney General Pam Bondi hasn't appeared on Fox News since June 30, following the backlash to the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
  • Bondi's comment, made in February, that the Epstein files were sitting on her desk to review, came back to haunt her after the memo was released.
  • Fox News has largely followed President Donald Trump's lead and focused its attention on anything other than the controversy, which has dominated coverage at other outlets.
  • Bondi has played a central role in the Epstein files saga, and her comment was challenged by Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy at a press conference in July.
  • The binders Bondi gave to right-wing influencers contained information already in the public domain, further fueling the criticism.
  • Some of the headlines Fox has run about Bondi since have been less than favorable, including "Bondi under siege after DOJ reveals no Epstein client list."

Statistics:

  • 7 July: Fox News ran a headline "Bondi under siege after DOJ reveals no Epstein client list."
  • 7 July: Fox News covered the reported feud between Bondi and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, headlined "Inside Dan Bongino's tense meeting with White House officials over Jeffrey Epstein fallout."
  • 18 July: Bondi briefly spoke with Fox correspondent David Spunt on Alcatraz Island, but she did not appear as a guest as she has done many times previously.
  • Since February: Bondi has been interviewed on Fox News regularly, including on Jesse Watters Primetime to issue 'breaking news' about the Epstein files.

Sources:

  • Mediaite
  • Fox News
  • REUTERS

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