Bondi claims FBI has tens of thousands of Epstein videos

Attorney General Pam Bondi told White House reporters on May 7, 2025 that the FBI was reviewing 'tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn.' She added there were 'hundreds of victims.' This was the first time any senior official had described evidence of this scale in the Epstein case.

Nine days before her public statement, on April 28, Bondi was recorded by a hidden camera at a 🌲Washington restaurant. A woman who identified herself as a nanny asked Bondi about the Epstein files. Bondi responded that there were 'tens and thousands of videos and it's all with little kids.' James O'Keefe posted the video, raising questions about why Bondi discussed classified evidence with a stranger before telling the public.

The DOJ's July 7, 2025 memo contradicted Bondi's claims. The two-page memo cited 'over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography.' That's videos and images combined, not tens of thousands of videos alone. The memo made references only to images of Epstein, not videos showing him with anyone.

Then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey wrote in an internal email to FBI officials that no videos or photos seized from Epstein's homes in 🗽New York, 🌴Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands showed victims being abused. None showed males with nude females. None contained evidence implicating anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell. Comey wrote: 'We did not, however, locate any such videos.'

AP reporters spoke with multiple lawyers and law enforcement officials who participated in the Epstein and Maxwell criminal cases. None had seen or knew of a trove of recordings matching what Bondi described. Neither Epstein nor Maxwell was ever charged with possessing videos of abuse. Indictments and detention memos don't reference such videos.

In January 2025, SDNY prosecutors were ordered to transfer the active Epstein co-conspirator investigation to DOJ headquarters in 🌲Washington. Nearly 50 survivors had provided detailed testimony to SDNY prosecutors and FBI agents, identifying at least 20 alleged co-conspirators and describing how the trafficking operation was structured and financed. After the transfer, the investigation ceased. The July memo declared DOJ 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.'

Sen. DDDick Durbin sent letters on July 18, 2025 to Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. Durbin said he had information that Bondi pressured about 1,000 FBI personnel to comb through Epstein documents and flag any mention of President Trump. Durbin also questioned the memo's claim that 'fully raw' jail surveillance footage supported the suicide conclusion, noting the footage metadata suggested it had been modified.

FBI Director Kash Patel appeared to walk back Bondi's claims in a podcast appearance with Joe Rogan. When discussing whether incriminating videos of powerful Epstein associates existed, Patel said: 'If there was a video of some guy or gal committing felonies on an island and I'm in charge, don't you think you'd see it?' He did not repeat Bondi's account of tens of thousands of videos.

CNN reported on July 24, 2025 that Bondi had told Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files. The administration's messaging shifted after that briefing. In March, Bondi had promised Americans would 'get the full Epstein files.' Trump said on April 22 that '100% of all of these documents are being delivered.' By late May, Patel and Secret Service Director Dan Bongino began downplaying the files' significance on Fox News.