Nancy Mace slams Bondi after DOJ claims full Epstein file release: 'Won’t hold up in court'

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Pam Bondi declared a full accounting of the Jeffrey Epstein files on Saturday night, saying the Department of Justice had released every last document under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

But Nancy Mace rejected that assertion, accusing the DOJ of hiding behind flimsy legal privileges and internal contradictions that “won’t hold up in a court of law.”

The clash comes after months of mounting pressure on the Trump administration to unseal the full archive tied to Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. Bondi’s memo was issued alongside what DOJ described as the final batch of disclosures, bringing the total to more than 3.5 million pages made public since January.

Pam Bondi claims full disclosure of Epstein files

In her memo, Bondi said the DOJ did not withhold or redact records “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity,” including for government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries.

The release included a roster of high-profile names appearing in the files, with former President Bill Clinton listed as having more than 1,000 mentions. Other figures referenced included Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz. President Donald Trump appeared less frequently, and Bondi’s team said his mentions reflected instances in which he alerted authorities about Epstein’s behavior years earlier.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in January that DOJ had published more than 3 million additional pages responsive to the Act. He explained that certain redactions were made under work-product doctrine and deliberative-process privilege, covering internal legal strategy rather than factual material. CSAM was removed entirely, as required by federal law.

The law itself was passed late last year following bipartisan outrage over Epstein’s 2019 death in federal custody and the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell. Bondi has overseen phased releases since early 2025, though some lawmakers, including Rep. Summer Lee, have criticized the pace and scope.

Nancy Mace says privilege claims 'won’t hold up'

Mace, who chairs a House subcommittee on federal oversight, posted a thread disputing DOJ’s legal reasoning.

“I want to be abundantly clear about the DOJ memo released tonight: Citing ‘Work Product Privilege’ will NOT save the DOJ from releasing all the Epstein files,” she wrote, adding that even deliberative-process privilege does not shield factual information.

She argued that by releasing both redacted and unredacted versions of some materials, the government effectively waived certain privilege claims. “If they can give the names, then they can give them in unredacted files,” Mace said, calling the disclosed name list an admission that those redactions could be lifted.

Mace also pointed to an internal FBI email from March 2025 showing agents sought guidance on redacting photos depicting “former US Presidents, Secretary of State, and other celebrities.” She questioned how that squares with Bondi’s claim that no redactions were made to protect powerful figures.

Another concern involved surveillance footage. Epstein’s properties were reportedly outfitted with extensive camera systems, yet only about 2,000 clips were included in the release. “Where are ALL the videos?” Mace asked, saying far more should exist based on what has long been reported.

She concluded that DOJ would lose in court if challenged and signaled plans to pursue additional records from the CIA, saying the public “deserves the truth.”