What actions did Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi take regarding Jeffrey Epstein in 2008?

1. Bondi was not Florida’s AG in 2008 — she could have prosecuted later, but was not the state prosecutor then

Pam Bondi did not hold the office of Florida attorney general in 2008; she served as Florida’s first female attorney general from 2011 to 2019, after the 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid broader federal charges ^[1]. Commentators and local reporting note the legal principle that state and federal governments can each try individuals under their laws, so in theory Bondi “could have tried Epstein” while she was state AG — but that possibility concerns her 2011–2019 tenure, not the 2008 case itself ^[1].

2. What happened in 2008: “deal of the century” and limited state plea

Multiple sources describe the 2008 outcome: Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to two prostitution-related felonies under a controversial agreement and served 13 months of an 18‑month sentence, a deal critics called the “deal of the century” ^{[3] [1] [7]}. That agreement was negotiated by state and federal prosecutors at the time, and it effectively limited federal prosecution then ^{[1] [7]}.

3. Criticism that Bondi “dropped the ball” as state AG later

Opinion and reporting pieces assert that when Bondi was Florida AG she did not lead a renewed prosecution of Epstein or his alleged co‑conspirators, prompting accusations she “dropped the ball” on victims’ cases ^[2]. The Palm Beach Post and The Independent piece frame the question of whether she should have used the state office to pursue additional charges after taking office; both note the 2008 plea remained the practical baseline for prosecution ^{[1] [3]}.

4. As U.S. Attorney General, Bondi’s more active role has been document releases and public pressure on FBI

As U.S. Attorney General in 2025, Bondi requested and helped declassify and publicly release a first phase of Epstein-related DOJ files, saying the Department intended to release remaining documents subject to redaction to protect victims ^[4]. She also publicly accused the FBI of withholding thousands of Epstein documents and asked FBI leadership to investigate and produce them, framing this as an accountability move ^[5].

5. Political context and competing interpretations of her motives

Coverage shows competing interpretations: some Republicans urged transparency and pressed Bondi to release files; supporters including the president defended her actions and framed them as fulfilling promises to victims and constituents ^{[6] [7]}. Critics — including opinion pieces and some news outlets — argue she missed earlier opportunities to more aggressively pursue justice for victims during her time as Florida AG and that her more recent actions have been politically charged ^{[2] [3]}.

6. Reopenings, reversals, and the question of investigations into people named in files

Reporting documents apparent reversals and public pressure: some outlets say Bondi previously declared there was “nothing in the Epstein files” warranting further probe, and later reopened or directed investigations after new disclosures and political pressure, leading to criticism about inconsistency and timing ^{[8] [9]}. Sources differ on motives and on whether the DOJ’s prior exhaustive reviews had missed material information ^{[8] [9]}.

7. Limits of available reporting and what sources do not say

Available sources do not provide a detailed timeline of every action Bondi personally took regarding Epstein between 2011–2019 while she was Florida AG, nor do they document internal prosecutorial decisions she may have considered; they also do not contain Bondi’s full explanation for each reversal or decision beyond public statements cited ^{[1] [4]}. Where sources assert motives or political loyalties, they are opinion or interpretation rather than documentary proof ^{[2] [9]}.

Bottom line: Bondi was not Florida’s attorney general in 2008 and therefore did not prosecute the original 2008 plea, but later critics say she did not sufficiently press state-level actions during her 2011–2019 tenure; as U.S. attorney general she has overseen declassification efforts and publicly accused the FBI of withholding Epstein documents, actions that both supporters and critics interpret through partisan lenses ^{[1] [4] [5] [2]}.