Attorney General Pam Bondi unexpectedly canceled her scheduled appearance at CPAC’s anti-trafficking summit in Washington, D.C., citing a health issue. Bondi was slated to speak at the Summit Against Human Trafficking but was unable to attend. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti conveyed Bondi’s regrets, stating, “I’m sorry to miss all of my CPAC friends today. Unfortunately, I am recovering from a recently torn cornea, which is preventing me from being with you. I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue.” The Justice Department has not provided further details on Bondi’s condition.
The timing of Bondi’s cancellation has drawn attention, particularly as it follows recent scrutiny over the Trump administration’s handling of documents related to the Epstein case. Bondi’s earlier statements about an Epstein “client list” being on her desk have also been a point of contention, with the Justice Department later clarifying that she was referring to case files, not a specific client list. This clarification came after the FBI stated there was no evidence Epstein kept such a list and that he died by suicide.
President Trump has largely sought to distance himself from the Epstein controversy, characterizing the ongoing focus on the matter as a distraction and a political tactic by Democrats. He has criticized certain Republicans for what he perceives as being manipulated by the Democratic agenda.
