Bondi distances herself from 'botched' release of Epstein files | First Thing

Former attorney general says expected replacement, Todd Blanche, was in charge of controversial process. Plus: why are US consumers so angry?Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Appearing before the House oversight and reform committee, the former attorney general Pam Bondi told lawmakers that Todd Blanche, the man Donald Trump has lined up to replace her, was “in charge” of the US Department of Justice’s controversial handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. She also said she was “not certain of the extent” that Trump knew about the crimes of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell before they became public.In her opening statement, Bondi defended the justice department’s handling of the records under her leadership and tried to distance herself from the release and r