‘This Story’s Not Going Away’: Bret Baier Opens Show Reporting on Trump’s ‘Epstein Files Saga’

BAIER: “But first, breaking tonight, President Trump says his Attorney General should release whatever documents she thinks are credible concerning the late businessman and convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. It’s his latest comment in the ongoing controversy that has split many of the president’s supporters. Meanwhile, there is new pressure tonight on Attorney General Pam Bondi from an unlikely spot, the top Republican in the House, the Speaker. Correspondent David Spunt has the story for us tonight. Good evening, David. I mean, this story does not go away here.”

SPUNT: “It’s really not right now, at least, Bret. And Attorney General Pam Bondi is breaking her silence on this Epstein matter following a week of intense blowback from the MAGA base. She says, though, she’s staying put despite calls for her to go.”

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BONDI: “I’m going to be here for as long as the president wants me here. And I believe he’s made that crystal clear. It’s four years. Well, three and a half now, right?”

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SPUNT: “Bondi had an unrelated event on fentanyl today, declined to expand on the reported fracture in a relationship with Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who threatened last week to quit over the DoJ’s closure of the Epstein case with a two-page memo.”

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BONDI: “I’m not going to discuss personnel matters. I think we all are committed to working together now to make America safe again. And that’s what we’re doing.”

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SPUNT: “House Speaker Mike Johnson pushing Bondi to do a little bit more, though. Watch.”

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Johnson: “She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody. I like Pam. I mean, I think she’s done a good job. We need the DoJ focusing on the major priorities. So let’s get this thing resolved.”

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SPUNT: “Well, today, President Trump, who’s been tamping down the Epstein story and endorsing Pam Bondi, gave her some new latitude.”

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Trump: “The Attorney General has handled that very well. She is — she’s really done a very good job. Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”

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SPUNT: “However, Jeffrey Epstein’s former lawyer Alan Dershowitz says it may not be up to Bondi.”

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DERSHOWITZ: “Many of the things that are being suppressed are being suppressed by two judges in Manhattan, and they’re doing it largely to protect the alleged accusers who are, in the view of the judges, victims. Pam Bondi and the Justice Department and Donald Trump are not responsible for that.”

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SPUNT: “Part of the reason Ghislaine Maxwell, former girlfriend and associate to Jeffrey Epstein, is appealing her conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court. But, Bret, the DoJ is asking the Supreme Court to deny Maxwell’s review of the case and leave her in prison where she’s serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein and his abuse of underage girls. Bret?”

BAIER: “But what’s interesting is, Dershowitz is right and it seems like he’s pretty knowledgeable on this and has been a part of some of these cases. You wonder why the Attorney General is not saying all of that publicly or the communication strategy here.”

SPUNT: “It’s something that Dershowitz, yes, says it’s up to two different judges. President Trump today, for the first time, we’ve heard him say that she has some more latitude to give out some more information. So we’re going to see if she does provide some more information.

BAIER: “We’ll track it all here. David, thank you.”

SPUNT: “Thank you.”