The Department of Justice is under new management this week as President Donald Trump tapped Todd Blanche to take over as acting head, effectively ending Pam Bondi’s tenure as Attorney General.
The transition comes as the administration seeks to move past a year defined by internal friction and public scrutiny over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime Thursday, Blanche faced direct questioning regarding whether his predecessor mishandled sensitive files related to the late sex offender.
Watters pressed the incoming DOJ chief on the narrative that Bondi’s exit was tied to her performance on the Epstein case—a saga that has seen conflicting reports about the existence of a “client list.”
Blanche was quick to push back on the notion of a fallout over the files.
“First of all, I have never heard President Trump say that the Attorney General was, that anything that happened to her had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche told Watters.
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He noted that the Epstein saga has “lasted for the entire past year,” but emphasized that the signing of the Transparency Act has finally forced the Department’s hand. “The Department of Justice has now released all the files, with respect to the Epstein saga,” he added.
The leadership change follows months of frustration from the White House. While Bondi initially claimed in February 2025 to have the Epstein client list on her desk, a DOJ memo released in July contradicted her, stating no such list existed. President Trump had also taken to Truth Social to voice his displeasure, questioning Bondi’s pace in investigating figures like James Comey and Adam Schiff. Sources close to the President indicated he viewed Bondi’s enforcement style as “weak” compared to the more aggressive posture he expects from the DOJ.
Blanche, who served as Bondi’s deputy, highlighted that the department has been open with investigators. He noted that both he and Bondi appeared before Congress voluntarily to address the bipartisan concerns that led to a House Oversight Committee subpoena in March.
“We have made every single congressman and senator available to come and see any document, redacted and unredacted, that they want,” Blanche said.
As he steps into the top role, Blanche made it clear he intends to turn the page on the controversy. He told Watters that since the files are now public and Congress has been given access, the Epstein matter “should not be a part of anything going forward” for the Justice Department.
With the Transparency Act now in full effect, the administration appears ready to shift its focus toward the broader investigative priorities the President has been demanding for months.
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