President Donald Trump’s handling of the Trump Epstein secret strategy has evolved into a complex political maneuver. During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised to release all Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. However, despite having the authority to declassify them instantly, his administration has employed a multi-stage tactic to keep the documents sealed, relying heavily on Attorney General Pam Bondi to execute the plan.
While some pundits claim the administration is finally pivoting toward transparency, critics argue otherwise. Instead of a reversal, observers see a calculated effort to delay, distract, and withhold information through seven distinct attempts.
Attempt #1: The Initial Stonewall
Back in July, Bondi’s Justice Department, together with FBI Director Kash Patel, declared the investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking effectively closed. Specifically, they stated they “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.” Consequently, the department asserted that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”
Attempt #2: Attacking the Base
When Trump’s MAGA base erupted over this refusal, the President lashed out. He called supporters who clamored for greater transparency “stupid” and “foolish,” labeling them victims of a “Democrat hoax.” However, this rhetoric failed to quell the demand for answers.
Attempt #3: The Grand Jury Ruse
As anger grew, Trump directed Bondi to ask the courts to release the grand jury transcripts. Critics called this a ruse, noting that Trump’s legal team likely knew the courts would refuse to release the material. Predictably, judges denied the request, with several writing blistering opinions that criticized Bondi for the effort.
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Attempt #4: The Illusion of Transparency
Subsequently, Bondi produced documents in response to a House Oversight Committee subpoena. Yet, it turned out that only 3% of the 20,000 documents were new, despite court confirmations that the full file contains over 100,000 documents.
Attempt #5: The Political Blockade
Later, a Democrat won a special election in Arizona, providing the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition to force a House vote on the files. In response, Speaker Mike Johnson refused to swear in the newly-elected member, claiming the recess prevented it—a maneuver that bought Trump time to whip votes.
Attempt #6: Strongarming Defectors
Meanwhile, the administration targeted Republican defectors. Bondi and Patel met with Reps. Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace, while Trump publicly attacked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her a “traitor.” Nevertheless, the Republicans refused to budge.
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Attempt #7: The “New Investigation” Loophole
Finally, faced with an inevitable House vote, Trump announced a new directive. He declared he would ask Bondi to investigate Epstein’s relationships with Bill Clinton and others. Bondi immediately assigned SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe.
The Catch: The Justice Department generally refuses to release materials related to an active investigation. Therefore, by ordering a new probe, the administration effectively created a justification to withhold the files indefinitely. Moreover, this contradicts Bondi’s July statement that the DOJ found “no evidence” to warrant further investigations.
Ultimately, critics argue this proves Trump has not reversed his resistance but has simply engineered a new “escape hatch” to keep the files sealed.