Attorney General Pam Bondi did not inform White House officials in advance that she planned to distribute binders labeled “Epstein Files: Phase 1” to MAGA-aligned activists and social media influencers at a White House event last week. The move, which senior staff did not anticipate, quickly stirred controversy and frustration among those closest to President Trump, multiple sources said.
The binders, which contained little new information on convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, were handed out without prior approval from senior White House officials. The unexpected distribution drew criticism not only from Democrats but also from some of Trump’s most loyal supporters. White House staff moved swiftly to control the fallout, privately reaching out to influencers who voiced their discontent online, sources said.
Ahead of the Justice Department’s public release, Bondi instructed her staff to compile and distribute the materials at the White House event without notifying senior officials, sources said. She reportedly believed the move would be well received. The gathering had initially been planned to engage influential pro-Trump voices who the president credits with bolstering his 2024 campaign, with no mention of Epstein-related materials.
The night before the event, Bondi told Fox News that the Justice Department planned to release “a lot of flight logs” and “a lot of names” related to Epstein. However, the binders mainly consisted of previously disclosed materials from past criminal and civil cases involving Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. This led senior White House officials to question why Bondi had suggested the release contained new revelations.
Press cameras, present to cover British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit, captured influencers leaving the West Wing carrying the binders and MAGA hats, creating an impression that new Epstein-related revelations had been released. The images quickly went viral, sparking widespread speculation, confusion, and backlash.
In response to the controversy, Bondi accused the FBI’s New York office of withholding information related to Epstein but did not specify what she believed was being kept hidden.
