United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday disputed any conflict between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice leadership regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Blanche’s statement comes after conservative journalist Laura Loomer and Axios reported that FBI deputy director Dan Bongino didn’t go to work Friday after clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Epstein files.
“I worked closely with @FBIDirectorKash and @FBIDDBongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files,” Blanche posted on X. “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”
Bondi suggested in February that the Epstein client list was sitting on her desk, but the Trump administration now says no such list exists. The Justice Department said that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted” in Epstein’s case earlier this week, and President Donald Trump questioned why there was continued interest in Epstein, adding, “You still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?”
Officials then released prison footage with very little visibility, which they hoped would prove that there was no outside influence on Epstein’s suicide. It was missing about a minute near midnight, and Wired reported the footage “was likely modified.”
“The file appears to have been assembled from at least two source clips, saved multiple times, exported, and then uploaded to the DOJ’s website, where it was presented as ‘raw’ footage,” the outlet reported.
As a result of the clash, Bongino is reportedly considering resigning from his position at the FBI. He will reportedly do so if Bondi remains in office.
A source close to Bongino told Axios, “he ain’t coming back.” He was reportedly displeased with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein case because she publicly overpromised but underdelivered. The pair allegedly clashed on Wednesday in the White House in a meeting featuring FBI Director Kash Patel, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich.
The White House responded to the report in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all,” Deputy White House press secretary Harrison Fields said.
Bongino was confronted about a NewsNation report that signaled he and Patel wanted more information released about Epstein earlier. He denied leaking the information.
“Pam said her piece. Dan said his piece. It didn’t end on friendly terms,” a person briefed on the heated discussion told Axios. Bongino left angry, the source said. A senior administration official also told the outlet that Bongino “was for releasing the information with the video and had no problem until he got heat online.”
TIM BURCHETT SAYS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DESTROYED EPSTEIN FILES
Bongino was criticized in May for appearing to lament taking his FBI job.
“I gave up everything for this,” he told Fox News. “I mean, you know, my wife is struggling … I stare at these four walls all day in DC, you know, by myself, divorced from my wife. Not divorced, but I mean, separated. And it’s hard.”