Trump administration's words as critics press for Epstein records

August 22, 20255:00 AM ET
Bill Chappell

... Feb. 21: Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Epstein client list is "sitting on my desk" ...

Feb. 27: The White House gives binders to far-right influencers bearing a Department of Justice seal and labels reading, "Epstein Files: Phase 1" and "Declassified." But ... Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, calls it "old info" ...

July 7: The Justice Department releases a memo saying it has found "no incriminating 'client list'" for Epstein ... The agency says it turned up more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence. It also states that "Epstein harmed over one thousand victims" ...

July 15: Bondi refuses to address questions about her handling of the Epstein files ...

July 16: ... "It's all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net. And so they try and do the Democrats' work," Trump tells reporters ...

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/22/nx-s1-5508871/trump-bondi-epstein-files-release-history