Friday Afternoon News Updates: Bondi Refuses Oath as Epstein Cover-Up Deepens – 5/29/26
Pam Bondi refused to go under oath, refused to be filmed, and refused to answer questions about Trump as it pertains to Epstein
Hi all, Ben here. It’s Friday. Here are the latest updates. There is of course a whole lot going on today, but I want to spend extra time focusing on a topic that always needs more attention, and that’s the Epstein Files. First, the headlines:
Stories we’re tracking today:
Pam Bondi’s sham deposition on the Epstein files saw no cameras, no oath, no answers about Trump
Epstein survivors speak out outside the hearing room, launch new website
Katie Phang scores a big win in her Epstein Files lawsuit
Trump’s Truth Social Iran post vs. what Iran is actually saying about the deal
Artists keep bailing on Trump’s Freedom 250 concert as the “nonpartisan” facade falls apart
Trump’s $1.776B slush fund is temporarily blocked by a federal judge
Russian drone crashes into a Romanian apartment building, NATO allies furious
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Let’s dive right in.
The Bondi “Deposition” That Wasn’t
Let’s talk about what happened this morning with Pam Bondi and the Epstein files. What took place was not a deposition. It was barely an interview. It was a performance staged to give the appearance of accountability while delivering none of it.
Here’s what we know. Bondi appeared before the House Oversight Committee this morning for what should have been a transcribed, filmed, under-oath deposition about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Instead, she refused to be sworn in. She refused to be filmed. And every time a Democrat asked her about Donald Trump’s role or knowledge, a DOJ lawyer sitting right next to her intervened and shut the questioning down cold.
Let that sink in for a second. The sitting Department of Justice sent one of its own attorneys to personally represent the former Attorney General at a congressional hearing and to run interference on any question involving the president. Congresswoman Stansbury (D-NM) said: “The United States Department of Justice is intervening on behalf of Pam Bondi to stop her from answering questions about what happened in the cover-up of this case and her conversations with Donald Trump.”
Democrats objected strenuously to both the no-oath and no-video conditions. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said he was “incredibly disappointed” and noted what should be obvious to anyone paying attention: if you’re the Attorney General of the United States testifying before Congress about one of the most consequential investigations in modern American history, it should be on the record and under oath. Full stop. Chairman James Comer (R-KY), of course, blocked both requests.
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Ok, let’s get back into it.
Bondi Throws Blanche Under the Bus
When Bondi did speak this morning, one theme dominated her testimony was to blame Todd Blanche. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who, it is worth noting, was Donald Trump’s former personal criminal defense lawyer (a point he gets agitated about when brought up), apparently ran the entire Epstein file review, made all the critical decisions, and is responsible for anything that went wrong, per Bondi.
In her opening statement, Bondi said: she delegated oversight of the document review process to Deputy Attorney General Blanche because, as head of a large department with broad responsibilities, she couldn’t personally lead every aspect of every effort. That collapses even under the most rudimentary contact with reality. When asked about the disastrous redaction failures, where survivors’ names were exposed while Epstein’s co-conspirators remained protected, she pointed to Blanche. When asked about Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a less secure prison facility, she referred questions to Blanche and the Bureau of Prisons.
The Democrats’ account on Oversight captured this perfectly: under Bondi, survivors’ names were unredacted. One survivor’s name appeared over 500 times in the released documents. Epstein’s co-conspirators? Redacted. These weren’t errors. They were choices that protected the powerful and put survivors in danger.
And then there’s the laughable claim of “transparency.” Bondi wanted credit for producing nearly 3 million pages of material. But as I’ve reported numerous times, there are credible estimates of 5 to 10 million documents at least, including videos and photographs, that have never seen the light of day. You cannot brag about transparency while simultaneously refusing to testify under oath, refusing to be filmed, and having a DOJ lawyer block every question about the president.
Rep. Garcia told reporters that he personally asked Bondi five separate times about her conversations with Trump regarding the Epstein files — whether Trump directed her, what he knew, what he asked her to redact. Five times. She refused to answer all five. The DOJ attorney at her side made sure of it.
“The Epstein Saga Could End Today”
Congresswoman Stansbury said something this afternoon that stuck with me. She noted that the Epstein saga could, in theory, end today. Trump’s DOJ could release all the files. They could arrest known perpetrators. They could pass legislation to support survivors. The tools and the power exists. The choice is being made not to use them.
Instead, at every turn, the administration has blocked the investigation, slow-walked the document releases, protected the powerful, and doxed the victims. Stansbury called for turning the Epstein Files into Epstein trials. I couldn’t agree more. Justice for these survivors is long overdue, and every procedural dodge, every no-oath interview, every DOJ lawyer whispering “we refuse to provide answers” is another day those survivors don’t get it.
Survivors Show Up. As Always.
While this sham was playing out inside the hearing room, Epstein survivors gathered in the hallway outside. Survivor Dani Bensky, asked beforehand what she was hoping for, expressed a wish that Bondi “wouldn’t talk about the Dow today.” She was of course referecing Bondi’s infamous meltdown at a previous hearing where she started shouting about stock market records in the middle of questions about child sex trafficking.
Survivor Marina Lacerda expressed hope that Bondi would be clear and that survivors wouldn’t be dehumanized the way they were at previous hearings. Survivor Sharlene Rochard held up a document listing names of individuals, including Donald Trump, whose alleged connections to Epstein were nev
er fully investigated, demanding answers for why those investigative leads were never followed.
Also worth noting: several survivors launched a new website today — survivorsisters.org — during Bondi’s testimony. The site outlines the Epstein timeline starting in 1996, shares the voices of dozens of survivors, and carries the tagline: “We Were Silenced. No Longer.” Please visit it, share it, and support these women.
Katie Phang’s Epstein Case Moves Ahead
MeidasTouch host Katie Phang got some big news today in her lawsuit to demand the release of more Epstein Files. The judge in the case, Judge Emmet Sullivan, set a June 16 hearing on her motion for a preliminary injunction to demand the Trump regime act.
The Iran Deal Back and Forth
Elsewhere today, Trump fired off a long Truth Social post declaring that Iran had agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz, dismantle nuclear materials, and cooperate on detonation of water mines, essentially claiming a comprehensive breakthrough. He even signed off telling sailors they could go home and say hello to their families from “your favorite President.”
We’ve heard this before.
Iran’s state-aligned Fars news agency had a different read. According to their reporting, Trump was misrepresenting the terms (shocker!), claiming Iran agreed to things that aren’t in the actual text of any agreement. Iran is reportedly insisting the US unblock $12 billion in frozen assets before talks can proceed, and a full ceasefire in Lebanon is also a prerequisite. The deal, per informed Iranian sources, still hasn’t received final approval in Tehran, and Trump’s post was described as a mix of fact and fabrication designed to claim premature credit.
The NY Times, in a new report, says Trump is preparing to give Iran a $300 billion “investment fund” as part of a deal they cut to end the war. The Times also reports that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been integral to the failed negotiations in the Iran War, have “suggested promoting real estate projects in Tehran and an investment fund in the event a deal was reached.”
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem added useful context, reporting that the lifting of the naval blockade was actually Iran’s first condition before moving to any next steps, a confidence-building measure Tehran insisted on, and that Trump appears to have framed it as a secondary concession rather than a demanded prerequisite. Critically, there has reportedly been no direct discussion of the nuclear issue itself yet. The process is expected to proceed through a step-by-step MOU framework. A Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire announcement is also reportedly expected as part of the broader framework.
The bottom line: the situation remains fluid, there is no agreed upon deal, and don’t be fooled into thinking that Trump’s “Truths” are, well, true.
Freedom 250 Keeps Losing Acts
The exodus from Trump’s Freedom 250 concert continues. Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and the Time, and the Commodores have all now dropped out, each citing some version of the same story: they were told it was a nonpartisan celebration and found out it wasn’t.
McBride said she was “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.” Bret Michaels said it was described to his team as “a celebration of our country through music.” Young MC said artists were “never told about any political involvement.” The Commodores said their music has “always been their voice” and they choose not to affiliate publicly with any single political party.
The Milli Vanilli is unclear at the moment. One of the original studio vocalists said neither she nor any member had been asked to perform, while frontman Fab Morvan said he plans to show up.
Trump’s $1.776B Slush Fund Put on Ice
On the legal front, Trump took a big loss today. A federal judge, Judge Brinkema, has temporarily blocked any further action involving Trump’s $1.776 billion fund for fraudsters and insurrectionists, preserving the status quo while litigation moves forward. A hearing is now set on the calendar for June 12. More on this, including the judge’s full order, on Meidas News.
Russia Drone Crashes Into Romania
And finally, a serious development in Europe. A Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Galați, Romania overnight, injuring two people and triggering evacuations after a fire broke out. It apparently overshot its target in Ukraine. Romania scrambled F-16s and summoned the Russian ambassador. The Russian consul in Constanța has been declared persona non grata and Romania is closing the consulate.
NATO allies reacted angrily. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s war had “crossed yet another line.” Poland’s foreign minister noted that regardless of whether the drone went off course by design or ineptitude, Russia remains dangerous and Europe must defend itself accordingly. UN Secretary-General Guterres warned of escalation risks that could spiral “out of control.”
Putin, today, was playing dumb. He said at a press conference in Kazakhstan that no one can determine the origin of the aircraft until an examination is conducted. And Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, took to social media to warn EU citizens that their governments have “unilaterally entered into a war with Russia” and that “the peaceful sleep is over.”
What happened to Trump ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours?
That’s the update, for now. Ron Filipkowski will be back later today with a full bulletin of the day’s news, so stay tuned. The Epstein story is the one that matters most today, and the survivors standing in that hallway deserve better than what they got this morning. Hit subscribe if you’re not already with us, and check out MeidasPlus.com for Ron Filipkowski’s daily recaps, ad-free podcast episodes, and more. See you back here soon.
I didn't expect Bondi to come clean. I would love to slap that smirk off her face! She's a pedo-protecting disgrace! I can't wait to see that bitch jailed in the future!
Shouldn’t she do jail time now??!