Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, has mounted a robust defence of the US investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s network, as British legal experts voice concerns over the opacity of American procedures. Bondi, who oversaw the initial state-level inquiry into Epstein in 2013, insisted that recent disclosures demonstrate a concerted effort to unearth the full extent of his operations. However, critics on this side of the Atlantic argue that the absence of a public inquiry and the selective release of documents undermine claims of transparency.
At a press conference in Washington, Bondi characterised the current federal probe as “the most comprehensive examination of Epstein’s activities to date”. She referenced the unsealing of court records in New York last month, which named several associates and alleged co-conspirators. ‘We are following the evidence wherever it leads,’ she said, adding that the Department of Justice has committed resources to tracking international leads, including those in the United Kingdom.
Yet British legal observers remain sceptical. Sir John Jenkins, a former director of public prosecutions, noted that the American system of grand juries and plea bargains can obscure as much as it reveals. ‘The Epstein case has been marked by a series of closed-door deals, most notably the 2008 non-prosecution agreement in Florida,’ he told the BBC. ‘Without a fully independent review, it is difficult to gauge how much is being withheld, whether for national security reasons or to protect powerful individuals.’
There are particular concerns about the flow of information between US and UK authorities. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it has received material from US counterparts, but declined to comment on the nature of ongoing inquiries. A source close to the investigation indicated that key British figures linked to Epstein have not been interviewed by American investigators, prompting fears of a disjointed effort.
The debate comes against a backdrop of renewed interest in Epstein’s network following the conviction of his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2021. Maxwell, a British socialite, is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Her case highlighted the transatlantic dimension of Epstein’s operation, which involved properties in London, Paris, and the Caribbean.
Bondi dismissed suggestions of a cover-up, pointing to the public naming of individuals such as Prince Andrew, who settled a civil lawsuit with Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022. ‘The royal family is not above the law,’ she said, ‘and our investigators have pursued every lead, irrespective of rank or status.’ However, the duke has not been charged with any crime, and his legal team continues to deny allegations of wrongdoing.
Further complicating the picture is the classified nature of some FBI documents. Bondi acknowledged that intelligence considerations may limit what can be released, but argued that the core findings will be made public. ‘We have a duty to the victims,’ she said. ‘But we also have a duty to protect sources and methods.’
British MPs have called for a parliamentary inquiry into links between Epstein and UK institutions. Harriet Harman, the mother of the House of Commons, warned that ‘the credibility of both US and UK justice systems is at stake’. She urged the attorney general to seek a formal mutual legal assistance treaty review to ensure full cooperation.
As the saga continues, the transatlantic divide over transparency remains stark. For Bondi and the US Department of Justice, the case represents a reckoning. For many in London, it is a cautionary tale about the limits of American judicial exceptionalism.
