Attorney General Pam Bondi abruptly canceled her much-anticipated appearance at a high-profile anti-human trafficking summit on Wednesday, citing a sudden medical emergency—just hours after explosive allegations surfaced linking her to private briefings with President Donald Trump about his multiple mentions in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Bondi, who has been under growing scrutiny over the administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents, was scheduled to headline CPAC’s Summit Against Human Trafficking, where her presence was widely expected to address mounting calls for transparency. But in a surprising twist, her withdrawal was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, who delivered a prepared statement to attendees. “I do have a note from Attorney General Pam Bondi that I wanted to share,” Galeotti said from the stage. He then read her message aloud…
“I’m sorry to miss all of my CPAC friends today… Unfortunately, I am recovering from a recently torn cornea, which is preventing me from being with you. I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue.”
His announcement was met with awkward silence, a smattering of applause, and visible disappointment. Several attendees were seen walking out of the conference after learning Bondi would not appear.
The Department of Justice declined to provide additional details about her medical condition, but the timing raised eyebrows. Just hours before, the Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report alleging that Bondi had privately warned Trump in May that his name appeared “multiple times” in sealed Epstein documents—contradicting Trump’s public denials.
According to the report, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche briefed Trump during a routine meeting, informing him that the sealed files included references to his name, graphic content including child pornography, and sensitive victim data. Bondi reportedly advised against further public disclosures, citing the disturbing nature of the material and its potential legal and political fallout.
Her recommendation directly conflicts with her earlier public comments, including a Fox News appearance where she claimed to have the “Epstein client list” on her desk—an assertion that has since unraveled. A leaked DOJ-FBI memo later revealed that no such list had ever been found in government files.
Trump, when asked by reporters on July 15 whether Bondi had informed him of any personal mention in the Epstein files, replied flatly, “No, no.” He called the meeting “just a very quick briefing” and accused former FBI Director James Comey of fabricating evidence in the files.
In response to the Journal’s reporting, Trump communications director Steven Cheung dismissed it as “fake news,” saying:
“The President kicked [Epstein] out of his club for being a creep. This is just more garbage from the Democrats and liberal media—like Russiagate all over again.”
Still, the story was corroborated by multiple senior officials familiar with the briefing, placing further strain on the White House’s narrative.
Meanwhile, Bondi’s absence and the administration’s opaque handling of the Epstein files have triggered outrage within the MAGA base. Once hailed as a loyal defender of Trump and a crusader against human trafficking, Bondi is now facing growing criticism from pro-Trump influencers who accuse her of stalling and misleading the public.
Her failure to deliver meaningful revelations in the heavily hyped “Phase I” Epstein release, combined with contradictory statements and secrecy, has fueled conspiracy theories and infighting among Trump supporters. Some have even called for her resignation.
Compounding the tension, Trump has lashed out at The Wall Street Journal itself, threatening to sue the paper and its owner Rupert Murdoch after they published a story alleging he sent Epstein a 50th birthday card featuring a hand-drawn image of a nude woman and a cryptic note:
“May every day be another wonderful secret.”
“I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” Trump shot back. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Legal experts say such a defamation suit would face long odds, but the threat highlights the mounting pressure Trump is feeling as the Epstein saga continues to dominate headlines.
In the meantime, the political fallout surrounding Bondi’s role and the administration’s broken promise of full disclosure is threatening to undermine the very credibility of the anti-trafficking effort she was expected to champion on Wednesday. With trust eroding among Trump’s own base, and with Bondi sidelined—medically or otherwise—the future of the long-promised Epstein transparency effort is now more uncertain than ever.