Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy questioned White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday about Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier claim that she had an Epstein “client list” on her desk—a statement now at odds with newly released findings from the Department of Justice.
The exchange came after a memo obtained by Axios revealed that the FBI and Justice Department found no evidence of a “client list” or blackmail operation tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The memo, part of an internal DOJ review, also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in federal custody, and that video footage confirmed no one entered his cell at the time of death.
Doocy’s Question
During the press briefing, Doocy asked pointedly:
“If there’s no Epstein client list, then what exactly was on Pam Bondi’s desk?”
Leavitt’s Response
Leavitt stood by Bondi, clarifying that the attorney general had been referring to the full archive of Epstein-related documents—not a specific “client list.”
“She was referencing the complete body of paperwork tied to Epstein’s criminal activity. That’s what she meant, and I’ll allow the attorney general to elaborate further,” Leavitt said.
She added that the Justice Department remains committed to holding anyone involved in criminal acts accountable:
“When it comes to the FBI and DOJ, they are absolutely focused on putting bad people behind bars.”
Bondi Faces Backlash
Bondi has come under fire in recent days after the memo contradicted several of her past public statements. In a February appearance on Fox News, she claimed an Epstein “client list” was on her desk and would soon be released. Around the same time, the DOJ handed out “declassified” binders to right-wing influencers at the White House, which were later found to contain mostly public information.
Bondi also previously claimed the FBI was reviewing tens of thousands of Epstein-related videos, including disturbing material. Critics have since accused her of spreading misinformation for political gain.
Despite the controversy, the DOJ maintains that no actionable evidence implicating uncharged individuals has been found. The memo concluded that Epstein acted largely alone and no “systematic blackmail scheme” involving high-profile figures was substantiated.
