In a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed vigorously with Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), reigniting the perennial controversy over the Epstein flight logs. These logs are rumored to potentially unveil connections between high-profile figures and the late Jeffrey Epstein, a subject that continues to linger in political discourse like a bad smell that no one can quite locate.
During the session, Bondi wasted no time pointing out what she characterized as Durbin’s obstructionist tactics and hypocrisy, with Blackburn vigorously supporting her claims.
Durbin accused Bondi of misleading the public regarding her access to Epstein’s client files. Bondi, however, swiftly countered, clarifying her claims amidst the back-and-forth.
Sen. Dick Durbin:
Back in February, you publicly asserted that the Epstein client list was available for review on my desk. Yet, all you provided at the major White House event was pre-existing public information—no client list whatsoever. Attorney General Bondi, why make such a bold claim without relevant material to back it up?Pam Bondi:
Senator Durbin, if you had paid attention to the entire statement, I mentioned that I hadn’t reviewed it yet. It was on my desk, alongside other important files like those related to JFK and Martin Luther King. Our memo on Epstein clearly states there is no client list—refer to our memo dated July 6.You also didn’t allow me to address the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDA) funding plunge from $196 million to the Office of Justice Programs. The grants will continue to roll out under OJP through 2026.
Unfazed, Durbin pivoted, throwing around allegations from an anonymous whistleblower claiming that Bondi had instructed the FBI to flag any Epstein documents mentioning President Trump. In a move that could be labeled political jujitsu, Bondi turned the tables, highlighting Durbin’s own reluctance to release the highly sought flight logs.
Sen. Dick Durbin:
Turning back to the Epstein files, according to a whistleblower who approached my office under protections, you allegedly urged the FBI to sift through around 100,000 Epstein-related documents within an unreasonable timeline, particularly to flag mentions of President Trump’s name.Yet, nothing arose from that review until July, when both DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo stating, “There’s no incriminating client list.” Why wasn’t the July 7 memo signed?
Pam Bondi:
The memo originated from the FBI and DOJ—Director Patel has addressed these inquiries comprehensively.Senator Durbin, it’s quite curious that you obstructed repeated Republican pleas for the Epstein flight logs throughout 2023 and 2024. Your resistance raises some eyebrows. Did campaign donations from Reid Hoffman—an associate of Epstein—play a role? Why the continued opposition to disclosing the logs, Senator Durbin?
Sen. Dick Durbin:
Let me be clear: I didn’t refuse. One of the senators expressed interest in producing those logs, and I simply requested a written proposal, which never materialized.Pam Bondi:
I believe Senator Blackburn would take issue with that assertion.Sen. Dick Durbin:
I’ll argue that point, as I have no recollection of who you referenced.Pam Bondi:
Reid Hoffman!
When Durbin attempted to diminish Bondi’s accusations, shifting the blame to Republicans for a supposed lack of written requests, Senator Blackburn immediately seized the opportunity to hold him accountable.
As Durbin scrambled for a diversion, citing procedural rules invoked by Republicans to end the meeting, Blackburn was having none of it.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn:
Mr. Chairman, I must interject here. Since Senator Durbin mentioned me, I want to set the record straight—he knows I persistently sought those flight logs.I submitted a subpoena, which you dismissed by shutting down the committee, despite my written request. This misrepresentation will not stand without challenge.
Sen. Dick Durbin:
Mr. Chairman, just to clarify—business was brought to a halt because your side invoked the two-hour rule. Secondly, if you wanted flight log documentation, you needed to submit a formal written request, which you never did.Sen. Marsha Blackburn:
I did submit, and your staff is aware of it. We’ll gladly resend that documentation; we’ve done it several times, but your staff seems to overlook it.
WATCH:
Senator Marsha Blackburn and AG Pam Bondi just teamed up against Senator Durbin after he denied subpoenaing the flight logs, bringing attention to Reid Hoffman, who is associated with Epstein.
Democrats seem to falter when they are confronted with the truth.
Bondi: “I find it very interesting that you refused… pic.twitter.com/86f4emRfEV
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) October 7, 2025
Related story:
