Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday ordered FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate why thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were withheld from her by the bureau.
In her letter, she wrote that before he became director, she requested the complete files from the agency related to Epstein and that in response the FBI sent her about 200 pages consisting primarily of flight logs, Epstein’s contacts and victims’ names and phone numbers.
“I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents,” Ms. Bondi said. “Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein.”
Ms. Bondi told Mr. Patel that despite her repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files.
“When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information,” she wrote.
Ms. Bondi called on Mr. Patel to instruct the FBI to deliver by 8 a.m. Friday the complete Epstein files to her office.
She said this includes “all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients, regardless of how such information was obtained.”
She added, “There will be no withholdings or limitations to my or your access. The Department of Justice will ensure that any public disclosure of these files will be done in a manner to protect the privacy of victims and in accordance with law, as I have done my entire career as a prosecutor.”
Additionally, Ms. Bondi directed Mr. Patel to conduct an immediate investigation into why her order to the FBI was not followed.
“You will deliver to me a comprehensive report of your findings and proposed personnel action within 14 days,” she said.
The Washington Times reached out to the FBI and Justice Department for comment.
Ms. Bondi said during an interview Wednesday on Fox News that she hoped to release “some Epstein information” on Thursday, including flight logs and names of those close to Epstein, who died at age 66 in New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019.
Ms. Bondi previously mentioned the Epstein list of names during a Fox News interview, saying the documents were “sitting on my desk,” per a directive ordered by President Trump.
In 2019, New York prosecutors charged Epstein with sex trafficking related to incidents in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York.
This happened after almost 14 years of investigations, arrests and jail time related to various sex crimes. A month after his 2019 arrest, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.