Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing a firestorm from conservatives across the country after walking back her bombshell claim earlier this year that she had Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged client list “on her desk.”

The controversy, which ignited over the weekend after a Department of Justice memo stated there was “no incriminating ‘client list,’” has quickly escalated, with many on the right calling for Bondi’s resignation and accusing her of misleading the public.

In a February interview with Fox News anchor John Roberts, Bondi appeared to suggest that the long-speculated Epstein list was not only real but in her possession.

“It’s sitting right now on my desk to review,” she said during the segment, adding that the move was “a directive by President [Donald] Trump.” Bondi linked the effort to a broader push for transparency, also mentioning reviews of classified JFK and MLK files.

When asked if she had seen anything shocking yet, Bondi simply replied: “Not yet.”

But now, that statement is being reinterpreted by the White House as a figure of speech — a nuance that isn’t sitting well with a MAGA movement that has grown deeply distrustful of official narratives surrounding Epstein’s death and his high-profile network of associates.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy directly pressed press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the contradiction.

“So what happened to the Epstein client list that the attorney general said she had on her desk?” Doocy asked.

Leavitt, choosing her words carefully, claimed Bondi’s comment wasn’t meant to be taken literally: “Yes, she was saying the entirety of all of the paperwork, all of the paper in relation to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. That’s what the attorney general was referring to.”

According to Leavitt, Bondi’s remarks were meant to signal that Epstein-related files were under review — not that a specific, blackmail-laced list was in her physical possession. She pointed to Bondi’s broader mention of JFK and MLK files to contextualize the statement as part of a comprehensive transparency initiative.

However, for many conservatives, that clarification raised more red flags than it resolved. Critics argue that the original comment was specific and deliberate — and that now, the DOJ under Bondi is trying to rewrite the narrative after publicly declaring there was no client list at all.

The backlash has been swift and fierce.

Robby Starbuck posted on X, “Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk to review for release to the public just a few months ago. Now the DOJ she leads claims that there’s no Epstein client list. Sorry but this is unacceptable. Was she lying then or is she lying now?”

Turning Point USA correspondent Savanah Hernandez demanded consequences: “Why did Pam Bondi get in front of the entire nation and say she had the Epstein client list on her desk? She should step down as Attorney General for lying to the American public.”

Liz Wheeler, speaking with Glenn Beck, delivered a warning to the administration: “If I’m President Trump, I would not tolerate this behavior anymore. She [Bondi] has become a liability to his administration.”

While President Trump has not yet commented publicly on the matter, the pressure is mounting. Many in the conservative base view this as more than just a messaging blunder — they see it as a test of whether the America First administration will hold its own accountable when trust is broken.

Epstein’s death in 2019 — officially ruled a suicide — has long fueled bipartisan skepticism due to his ties to elite political, financial, and royal figures. The DOJ’s 2023 report acknowledged multiple failures by prison staff, including broken surveillance systems and lapses in security, only fueling speculation that a cover-up occurred to protect powerful individuals.

Now, with the DOJ claiming there was no client list, and Bondi seemingly backpedaling on her earlier claims, the MAGA movement wants answers — not excuses.

One thing is certain: the demand for full transparency on Epstein isn't going away. And if the Attorney General misled the American people, the calls for her resignation may only grow louder.