A look at how the Epstein files dogged Pam Bondi's time as attorney general

NEW YORK (AP) — After Pam Bondibecame U.S. attorney generallast year, conservative influencers, online sleuths and others who wanted the government to disclose all it knew about Jeffrey Epstein thought they might have a champion in the Department of Justice.

So did Jess Michaels, one of the legions of women who have said they were sexually assaulted by the late financier and convicted sex offender with a roster of powerful friends in business, politics and beyond.

"I thought, 'Well, maybe a woman stepping into this role will finally, finally get the truth,'" Michaels recalled Thursday, after President Donald Trumpannounced Bondi was outof the nation's top law enforcement job.

"She had this opportunity to be a hero and to really do right by survivors of sexual violence and trafficking," Michaels said, "and she chose not to."

The furor over the "Epstein files," as the trove of investigative records came to be known, wasn't the only controversy of Bondi's tenure. But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general.

Bondi rejected criticism of her handling of the matter, and Trump on Thursday praised her as "a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend."

Michaels and other Epstein victims watched it all with shaken trust that Bondi's departure alone won't likely rebuild.

"This is not about a single person," accuser Annie Farmer said Thursday. "It is about a government and judicial system that has repeatedly failed Epstein survivors."

Here's a glance at Bondi's part in the Epstein saga:

February 2025: The binders

Freshly confirmed as attorney general for a president who had suggested on the campaign trail that he'd open more government documents on Epstein, Bondi whetted appetites by declaring on Fox News that "you're going to see some Epstein information released." And when a host asked about "releasing "the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients" — a long-rumored, never-seen sex trafficking roster — she replied that it was"sitting on my desk right now."

A day later, conservative commentators and content creators were brought to the White House to getDOJ bindersemblazoned with "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" and "Declassified."

The attempt to showcase transparency soon backfired, once it emerged that the contents largely were already public. Bondi demanded that the FBI give her "the full and complete Epstein files," and she later said that she'd unearthed a "truckload" of previously withheld material and that "everything is going to come out to the public."

July 2025: The walkback

After months of anticipation, the Justice Department said itwouldn't release any more Epstein material. A court had sealed much of it to protect victims, and "only a fraction" would have come out if Epstein had gone to trial, the agency said in an unsigned memo. It added that authorities hadn't found evidence that merited new charges or investigations and that "perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein" wouldn't help victims get justice.And, it said, there was no "client list." As for Bondi's prior comment that it was on her desk, officials said she had meant the overall case file.Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi's capability. But Trump stood by her, scolding a journalist for attempting to ask her a question about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting.Trump had himselfraised questions for some yearsafter Epstein's 2019death in jailas the financierfaced federal sex trafficking charges. After the Justice Department memo, however, the presidentsuggested there was nothing more to sayabout Epstein and the country, includinghis own supporters, should simply move on.November 2025: The legislation

After months of anticipation, the Justice Department said itwouldn't release any more Epstein material. A court had sealed much of it to protect victims, and "only a fraction" would have come out if Epstein had gone to trial, the agency said in an unsigned memo. It added that authorities hadn't found evidence that merited new charges or investigations and that "perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein" wouldn't help victims get justice.

And, it said, there was no "client list." As for Bondi's prior comment that it was on her desk, officials said she had meant the overall case file.

Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi's capability. But Trump stood by her, scolding a journalist for attempting to ask her a question about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting.

Trump had himselfraised questions for some yearsafter Epstein's 2019death in jailas the financierfaced federal sex trafficking charges. After the Justice Department memo, however, the presidentsuggested there was nothing more to sayabout Epstein and the country, includinghis own supporters, should simply move on.

Amid a drumbeat ofdisclosuresthat begin to exact consequences for some powerful people —particularly Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain's former Prince Andrew — Congresspassed legislationto force the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files on Epstein. Trump signed it into law, casting the quest for Epstein information as a Democratic-led distraction from the Republican agenda.

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Meanwhile, at his urging, Bondi announced that the U.S. attorney in Manhattan wouldinvestigate Epstein's tiesto some of the Republican president's political foes, including Democratic former President Bill Clinton. None has been accused of misconduct by Epstein's accusers; nor has Trump, another former Epstein friend. Both Clinton and Trump have said they knew nothing about Epstein's misconduct and cut ties with him many years ago.

December 2025: The first batch

At the statutory deadline for making the Epstein files public, the Justice Departmentreleased only some of them. While the records included some material the public hadn't previously seen, including some candid photos of Clinton, the documents didn't break major ground and included little about Trump.

The department said it was continuing to review other Epstein records tomake sure that victims were protected.

But Democratscried cover-up, bill sponsor Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., accused the Justice Department of breaking the law by missing the deadline and redacting too much, and some Epstein accusers also questioned the extensive redactions.

January 2026: The big release

The Justice Department began releasing a huge cache of additional Epstein documents, videos and photos, though others remained under wraps.The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading andfrank communicationsin a chummy elite that looked past Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida. Some high-flying Epstein friends resigned or lost jobs incorporate America,academia,big law firms, theBritish,SlovakianandNorwegiangovernments and beyond.But the documentsdisclosed highly personal informationabout some victims whileredactingthe names of Epstein correspondents in, for example, emails that appeared to refer to the sexual abuse of underage girls.Gloria Allred, an attorney for numerous Epstein victims, said Thursday that Bondi betrayed them by failing to protect personal information in the files."She has destroyed the trust in the DOJ that victims had a right to expect, and her termination may be the only type of justice that survivors will receive from the DOJ," Allred said by email.February 2026: The hearing

The Justice Department began releasing a huge cache of additional Epstein documents, videos and photos, though others remained under wraps.

The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading andfrank communicationsin a chummy elite that looked past Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida. Some high-flying Epstein friends resigned or lost jobs incorporate America,academia,big law firms, theBritish,SlovakianandNorwegiangovernments and beyond.

But the documentsdisclosed highly personal informationabout some victims whileredactingthe names of Epstein correspondents in, for example, emails that appeared to refer to the sexual abuse of underage girls.

Gloria Allred, an attorney for numerous Epstein victims, said Thursday that Bondi betrayed them by failing to protect personal information in the files.

"She has destroyed the trust in the DOJ that victims had a right to expect, and her termination may be the only type of justice that survivors will receive from the DOJ," Allred said by email.

At a congressional hearing, a combative Bonditried to quell the Epstein files controversy. She defended how the Justice Department dealt with it, lobbed personal insults at Democrats and lauded Trump over, among other things, the performance of the stock market.

Bondi said she was deeply sorry for what Epstein victims suffered. But she declined a request from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to face and apologize to them for the Justice Department's actions, and Bondi dismissed Massie's critiques of the release of victims' personal information.

March 2026: The subpoena

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reformsubpoenaed Bondito answer questions on April 14 about the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein investigation and file release. Withfive Republicans joining Democratsto support the subpoena, it reflected widespread discontent, including in the GOP base, over Bondi's management of the matter.

The future

For now, Deputy Attorney GeneralTodd Blanchewill be the acting attorney general.

Michaels, whotraveled to the Capitol last yearto press for the files' release, wanted Bondi gone. But will Blanche do better?

"We can only hope. But given that they worked together, I don't have great expectations," she said.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Michaels has done.

Robert Glassman, an attorney for a woman whotestified as "Jane"in the 2021 criminal trial of Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell, noted that agency leaders come and go.

"For victims of sexual abuse, what matters is whether the institutions meant to protect them actually do their job," he said.

byNeo

in

April 02, 2026

A look at how the Epstein files dogged Pam Bondi's time as attorney general

NEW YORK (AP) — After Pam Bondibecame U.S. attorney generallast year, conservative influencers, online sleuths and others...

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Easter eggs can be dyed and still eaten. Just follow these tips to make sure it's safe

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about how todecorate your eggs.

Whether you're dyingeggs for your table spreador planning to hide them for an egg hunt, it's important to followfood safety guidelinesto minimize germs and maximize your egg quality.

You have some time to eat your eggs

Eggs areremarkably long lasting, so there needn't be a giant rush to eat them.

"Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them," said Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.

There is also a benefit in letting eggs age just a bit, as older eggs can be easier to peel. That's because eggs shrink over time within the shell, creating an air pocket between the egg and the shell.

Hard boil your eggs

Egg processors clean eggs before they reach store shelves, but it also is important to thoroughly cook eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness,especially salmonella. That bacteria lives naturally in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of chickens, said Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University.

To cook your eggs, place them in a saucepan, fill it with water and bring it to a boil. After that, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 12 minutes. Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.

You can vary the time in the hot water depending on a desire for harder boiled or slightly creamier eggs, but the yolk should be pretty solid to be safe. Boiling them for too long can risk creating green sulfur development on the outside of the yolk.

How to cool the eggs

After that, Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, said there are two options.

You can run your eggs under cold water to reduce the temperature. From there, you can color them right away or place them back in the fridge until you're ready. Or, after you've boiled them, you can let them air dry until they've cooled.

The boiling process sanitizes the eggs, and as long as they are kept out of water, Schaffner said, they will remain safe to eat.

"You've boiled the egg, you've gotten rid of any bacteria that might be in the egg. And now you've air-cooled it, right? So it's going to cool more slowly, it's probably going to cook more," he said. "But most importantly, you don't have to worry about any bacteria from the water getting internalized into the egg."

It's OK to get food dye on your eggs

Either artificial or natural food dye is OK as long as the dye label says it's food grade. For those keeping track, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has beenupdatingits guidance and regulations regarding certain dyes.

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And no, it's not a problem if the dye seeps through the shell.

"Eggs kind of naturally have their own abilities to absorb only so much," Baker said.

As you're decorating the eggs and have the eggs outside, she suggested keeping your eggs in an ice bath, so they can stay at a cooler temperature while you're decorating.

Follow the 2-hour rule

Eggs should generally be kept at or below 40 degrees (4.4 degrees Celsius) to minimize the risk of contaminants.

Cooked eggs that weren't air-cooled should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. And that's cumulative, including the time spent decorating and the time spent hiding during the Easter egg hunt.

But if it's particularly warm, then that two-hour rule may be shortened to one hour, Lynch said.

Hard boiled eggs are generally good for about a week in the fridge.

Give your eggs a rinse before peeling

Be careful with your eggs as you handle them.

One of the biggest concerns is making sure your eggs haven't cracked during an Easter egg hunt, making them vulnerable to contaminants. And once the egg has been hard boiled, there's no way to kill bacteria that get inside, Baker said.

"We don't want to be putting them in the soil or in lawns where pets have gone to the bathroom," she said.

Whether the eggs are hidden outdoors or in a corner of your home, you should rinse them in cool water before you peel them. And wash your hands, too, just in case the eggs have picked up something.

Consider using plastic eggs

If the Easter egg hunt means your eggs will be at room temperature for longer than two hours, experts recommended using plastic eggs for the hunt instead of real ones to minimize food safety risk.

"If it's an outdoor Easter egg hunt at any time, I would say go with the plastic eggs and be safe," Baker said. "And use your dyed Easter eggs as your centerpiece on your table or your buffet, and enjoy them that way."

byNeo

in

April 02, 2026

Easter eggs can be dyed and still eaten. Just follow these tips to make sure it's safe

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about how todecorate your eggs....

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Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general, White House official says

By Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official said on Thursday, following mounting frustration with her performance, including her handling of investigative files ‌related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi was not moving quickly enough ‌to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.

In a social media post, Trump praised Bondi as a "Great American Patriot and a loyal friend" and said she will ​move to a job in the private sector. Trump said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, will lead the Justice Department in the interim.

During her tenure as the top U.S. law enforcement official, Bondi was a combative champion of Trump's agenda and dismantled the Justice Department's longstanding tradition of independence from the White House in its investigations.

But it was repeated criticism over the Epstein files, including from Trump allies and some Republican lawmakers, that came ‌to dominate her tenure. Bondi was accused of covering ⁠up or mismanaging the release of records on the DOJ's sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, a financier who cultivated ties with an array of wealthy and powerful figures.

POLITICAL HEADACHE

The issue created political headaches for Trump and drew renewed scrutiny ⁠of his past friendship with Epstein, which he has said ended decades ago.

Her ouster could lead to a shake-up in strategy at the Justice Department and potentially a renewed push to deploy the U.S. legal system against Trump's targets.

Bondi is the second senior Trump official to be ousted recently. Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi ​Noem ​on March 5 following criticism of her management of the agency and Trump's immigration ​agenda.

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Bondi, a former Republican state attorney general in Florida, ‌said she worked on restoring the Justice Department's focus on violent crime and rebuilding trust with Trump's supporters after federal prosecutors twice criminally charged Trump during his years out of power.

Bondi also faced criticism over the removal of dozens of career prosecutors who worked on investigations disfavored by Trump, with critics accusing her of abandoning the DOJ's traditional focus on even-handed justice.

Bondi defended the rollout of the Epstein files, saying the Trump administration had been more transparent on the issue than previous presidents and that DOJ lawyers worked on a compressed timeline to review reams of material.

SPARRING WITH LAWMAKERS

During a ‌combative hearing before a House of Representatives panel in January, Bondi responded to criticism ​with political attacks directed at lawmakers. She refused to apologize or look at Epstein victims ​and their relatives who attended the proceedings.

Bondi early last year played ​into fevered speculation about the Epstein files, saying a client list was on her desk for review. But after ‌an initial release included material that had largely already been ​public, the DOJ and FBI declared in ​July that the case was closed and that no further disclosures were warranted.

The move prompted an eruption of criticism and eventually a bipartisan law passed in November requiring the Justice Department to release nearly all of its files.

The release of roughly 3 million pages of ​records still did not quell the controversy, as lawmakers ‌criticized redactions in the files and the disclosure of the identities of some Epstein victims.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee voted to ​subpoena Bondi and she was set to testify on April 14.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose, additional reporting by Bhargav ​Acharya, Doina Chiacu, Bo Erickson and Steve Holland; Editing by Michelle Nichols)

byNeo

in

April 02, 2026

Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general, White House official says

By Andrew Goudsward and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has removed A...

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Zendaya Wows in Electric Gown as Her 'Something Blue' for “The Drama” Premiere, Completing Traditional Wedding Rhyme

Zendaya stepped out in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown covered in blue and black silk feathers for the New York premiere of The Drama

NEED TO KNOW

• The look leaned into the A24 film's wedding theme

• The actress previously found her "something old," "something new" and "something borrowed"

Zendayais embracing bridal blue.

On April 2, the actress, 29, stepped out for the New York premiere ofThe Dramain an electric blue feather-topped Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown,representing her "something blue" as a nod to the movie's wedding theme and the traditional rhyme.

Zendaya's show-stopping gown consisted of blue and black feathers coating a sculptural strapless bodice and tiered drop-waist skirt. She paired the gown with bird-inspired pumps, complete with feathered faces and beaks at the pointed toe.

Her accessories included blue jewels from Tiffany & Co — cocktail rings and a pair of starry drop earrings.

The actress has been thoughtfully playing out the wedding rhyme during the premieres of her film.

For the film's Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday, March 17, Zendaya, who is rumored to have already married her longtime partner,Tom Holland, played into the commentary by wearing what appeared to be a wedding band on her ring finger with a white gown that marked her "something old."

She dipped into her own archives for the occasion andrewore the silky Vivienne Westwood gownshepreviously woreto the2015 Academy Awards.

"Something old," her go-to stylist and close friendLaw Roachwrote over a throwback image of Zendaya smiling as she posed in the dress at the 2015 Academy Awards, confirming the look was from a past appearance.

Next was her "something new."

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For the Paris premiere on March 24, Zendaya stepped out in abridal-white gown by Louis Vuitton. The look featured a plunging back and a large black accent bow. Zendaya showed off the rear of her gown, which featured a backless cutout and a split in the back, accessorizing her look with a layered necklace and three diamond rings, including one onthatfinger.

On March 26 in Rome, she sported ablack Giorgio Armani Privé gownoriginally designed for Cate Blanchett for the Rome premiere ofThe Drama.

Zendaya opted to wear the silk architectural column gown (featuring a plunging neckline of onyx stones) that Blanchett, 56, most recently wore to the Venice Film Festival in 2025. The fashion choice represents Zendaya's "something borrowed."

Blanchett sported the same dress for the premiere ofLa Graziain Venice. Prior to that, the Oscar winner wore the look for the 2022 SAG Awards.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Roach, 47, was also the person who tipped the world off to Zendaya and Holland's alleged nuptials.When asked about Zendaya on the red carpet at the2026 Actor Awardson March 1, the image architect toldAccess Hollywood, "The wedding has already happened," teasing, "You missed it."

The reporter asked, "Is that true?" to which Roach replied, "It's very true!" with a laugh before walking away from the interview.

Zendaya has yet to confirm or deny the statement, and reps for the actress did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment, but she has seemingly enjoyed playing into the rumors.

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

April 02, 2026

Zendaya Wows in Electric Gown as Her 'Something Blue' for “The Drama” Premiere, Completing Traditional Wedding Rhyme

Zendaya stepped out in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown covered in blue and black silk feathers for the New York premier...

Read More