FBI NY Office unilaterally withholds documents on Epstein and Pam Bondi demands explanations from Kash Patel

Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a blunt letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, ordering him to find out why the FBI's New York Field Office is unilaterally withholding thousands of documents about the Jeffrey Epstein.

In the public memo, Bondi wrote that before Patel became FBI director he asked the agency for the complete files related to Epstein, however, the agency only sent about 200 pages consisting of flight logs, Epstein's contacts and victims' names and phone numbers.

These 200 pages is a lower number than those disclosed last year in a civil lawsuit involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former partner and convicted accomplice. Epstein died in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York under bizarre circumstances.

Bondi said that, through an inside source, she learned that the FBI's New York Field Office was withholding thousands of pages about the case from her.

"I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents," Bondi said. "Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein."

"Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information," continued the attorney general, who then asked Patel to investigate what is going on and turn over to her all available information about the case.

"By 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, February 28, the FBI will deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office, including all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients, regardless of how such information was obtained," Bondi wrote. "There will be no withholdings or limitations to my or your access. The Department of Justice will ensure that any public disclosure of these files will be done in a manner to protect the privacy of victims and in accordance with law, as I have done my entire career as a prosecutor."

Finally, Bondi gave Patel a 14-day deadline to investigate "why my order to the FBI was not followed," asking for a detailed report and specific proposals for disciplinary action.