Judge Orders Urgent Response by Trump on Epstein Claims!

Summary

LEGAL AF: Judge Orders Urgent Response by Trump on Epstein Claims!
MeidasTouch Network | February 7, 2026
Host: Michael Popok (with clips from Pam Bondi and survivor Lisa Phillips)
Timeframe: [03:09] – [16:44]

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the latest legal battle over the alleged “Epstein client list,” focusing on a federal judge's demand for a clearer response from the Department of Justice and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously claimed to possess the list. Michael Popok provides a deep-dive analysis of the ongoing FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) lawsuit initiated by journalist Jimmy Tobias, the shifting explanations for the list’s whereabouts, and the broader implications for transparency in government and ongoing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s network.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The FOIA Lawsuit: Origins and Stakes ([03:09] – [06:16])

• Pam Bondi’s Infamous Claim

  • In February 2025, Pam Bondi publicly stated on Fox News:
    • “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review. That’s been a directive by President Trump. I’m reviewing that. I’m reviewing JFK files, MLK files. That’s all in the process of being reviewed because that was done at the directive of the president from all of these agencies.” — Pam Bondi, [05:03]
  • This claim was the catalyst for multiple investigations and public skepticism.

• Journalist Jimmy Tobias Files FOIA Request

  • Immediately following Bondi’s comments, Tobias sought access to the specific Epstein-related records referenced.

• The Federal Judge's Involvement

  • Judge Randy Moss demanded the DOJ and Bondi identify and provide the client list, or convincingly explain its absence—underscoring the legal standard for FOIA compliance.

• Initial DOJ Response Deemed Inadequate

  • DOJ claimed, in a declaration by Sean O’Neill, that “there are no records responsive to plaintiff’s request for the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients.”
    • Michael Popok commentary: “He basically declares there is no Epstein client list. And they've done a systemic review of the Epstein material and they've revealed no incriminating client list based on a July 7 memo.” [09:55]

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2. Bondi Tries to Walk Back Her Statements ([05:18] – [06:16])

• Reframing on Air

  • Bondi later tried to walk back her initial assertion, saying:
    • “I was asked a question about the client list and my response was it’s sitting on my desk to be reviewed, meaning the file along with the JFK, MLK files as well. That’s what I meant by that…” — Pam Bondi, [05:24]

• Child Pornography Evidence

  • Bondi also touched on the evidence found in the Epstein material, noting it included “tens of thousands of video, they turned out to be child porn…those were never going to be released…” [05:24]

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3. Survivor and Whistleblower Pressure ([09:24])

• Survivor Response: If DOJ Won’t, We Will
  • Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips, represented by Michael Popok, announced a plan by survivors to compile and release their own list:
    • “We know the names. Many of us were abused by them. Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names.” — Lisa Phillips, [09:24]

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4. The Ongoing Legal and Political Maneuvering ([09:55] – [11:58])

• DOJ’s “Shell Game” and Delay Tactics

  • Popok explains repeated DOJ deflections, first blaming judges for withholding files, then claiming Congressional permission was necessary, despite the documents never residing with Congress.

• Role of Congress and the “Epstein Transparency Act”

  • Congressional actions and inactions have further delayed public disclosure, with bills stalling and a discharge petition ultimately forcing a vote, though only after substantial bipartisan pressure.

• Parallel Litigations Monitored by Legal AF

  • Popok references multiple cases:
    • Jimmy Tobias’ case before Judge Moss (focus of this episode)
    • A Democracy Forward case before Judge Chutkan regarding Trump-Epstein communications
    • A Second Circuit case involving the parent company of the National Enquirer seeking broader Epstein files

• Popok’s Analysis

  • “Judges are not going to allow the Department of Justice to point to the 3 million, which is half or one tenth of the entire pile of Epstein documents, and get away with it.” [11:58]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pam Bondi on Fox News: “It's sitting on my desk right now to review…” [05:03]
• Pam Bondi Wind-Down: “I was asked a question about the client list and my response was it’s sitting on my desk to be reviewed, meaning the file along with the JFK, MLK files as well…” [05:24]
• Lisa Phillips (Epstein survivor): “Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names. We all know who are regularly in the Epstein world…and it will be done by survivors and for survivors, no one else is involved. Stay tuned for more details.” [09:24]
• Michael Popok’s Assessment: “Delay, delay, delay… and still we don't have the things the Treasury Department has like the Internal Revenue Service, bank records, how to track the money flow. We just have the DOJ and FBI files.” [11:31]
• On DOJ’s Excuses: “That was just a ruse. That was just a charade that they tried to pull on the American people.” [11:18]

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:09] Introduction to the Jimmy Tobias FOIA lawsuit and its origins
• [05:03] Pam Bondi’s Fox News statement (“It’s sitting on my desk right now…”)
• [05:24] Bondi’s clarification and discussion of evidence
• [06:16] FOIA request specifics and initial DOJ declaration
• [09:24] Lisa Phillips, Epstein survivor, announces survivors’ own client list
• [09:55] Discussion of the DOJ’s non-responsive FOIA reply and future congressional hearings
• [11:18] Explanation of the “shell game” and DOJ’s legal maneuvers
• [11:58] Overview of parallel litigation and Popok’s closing analysis

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Conclusion

Michael Popok meticulously unpacks the complex and often infuriating legal and bureaucratic gymnastics surrounding the unfulfilled promises to disclose the “Epstein client list.” This episode offers critical insight into how both the executive branch and Congress have repeatedly punted responsibility, while survivors and independent journalists persistently push for transparency. With federal judges now signaling impatience with further DOJ delays, the episode ends with anticipation for Bondi’s upcoming congressional testimony and hints at escalating pressure for public accountability.

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Summary prepared by Legal AF Podcast Summarizer – based on [03:09]–[16:44]

Transcript

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[Michael Popak]

District of Columbia Federal Judge Randy Moss wants to know where the Epstein client list is that Pam Bondi said was on her desk. This in a case that was filed by independent journalist Jimmy Tobias under the Freedom of Information act request that that case was filed back in August, right at the moment that Pam Bondi went on Fox and said, it's sitting on my desk. And Jimmy said, it is. I would like to see it as part of a public records request. So back in December, Judge Moss ordered the Department of Justice and Pam Bondi to file a declaration to identify the client list and to provide it by the 6th of January. They filed something. I wouldn't say it was responsive to the judge's order. And in a new hearing, he's now giving them another opportunity to explain where the client list is. And no, he's not going to allow the Department of Justice to point to the 3 million Epstein files that were just produced as a excuse for not complying with Freedom of Information act request.

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Michael?

[Michael Popak]

I'm Michael Popak. You're here on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal af. Let's get down to the new reporting. Back in August, Jimmy Tobias, an independent journalist shout out to independent journalism, filed in the District of Columbia a complaint right after Pam Bondi made those now infamous words that will live to hang her. Back in February of 2025, Pam Bondi told the American people that the client list was sitting on her. Des, you remember the clip? Here it is. The DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients. Will that really happen?

[Pam Bondi]

It's sitting on my desk right now to review. That's been a directive by President Trump. I'm reviewing that. I'm reviewing JFK files, MLK files. That's all in the process of being reviewed because that was done at the directive of the president from all of these agencies.

[Michael Popak]

So. So have you seen anything that you said? Oh, my gosh, not yet.

[Pam Bondi]

I was asked a question about the client list and my response was it's sitting on my desk to be reviewed, meaning the file along with the JFK MLK files as well. That's what I meant by that. Also to the tens of thousands of video, they turned out to be child porn. Downloaded by that disguise. Disgusting. Jeffrey Epstein child porn is what? They were never going to be released, never going to see the light of day. To him being an agent, I have no knowledge about that. We can get back to you on that. And the minute missing from the video. We released the video showing definitively the video was not conclusive, but the evidence prior to it was showing he committed suicide.

[Michael Popak]

So Jimmy Tobias filed a lawsuit. And here's what he asked for in his. In his filing. He said on July 23, he submitted a FOIA request, Freedom of Information act to doj. It said, I seek all of the Epstein related records that Bondi was referring to during the interview appearance, including the document or documents she was referring to when she stated it is sitting on my desk right. Right now. Including the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients that Bondi was asked about by the reporter. Okay. So that went through a process. The Freedom of Information act is a great procedure for groups like Democracy Forward, the aclu, Midas, Touch, Legal af, Jimmy Tobias to get the government to produce documents. And you can't point to another process and say, oh, I'm going to produce them at a later time and you'll go have to hunt for them. No. That's why there's a number of Freedom of Information act cases that still exist related to Epstein and the disclosure around the Epstein files. Even with the disclosure of the Epstein files, Judge Chutkin has one related to Democracy Forward and communications directly between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. As an example, there's a case up at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals related to the parent company of the National Enquirer, having made about five years ago an Epstein document request. And now you've got Jimmy Tobias. So after this was filed, the judge, Judge Randy Moss, issued a order in January, sorry, in December of 2025, and told the Department of Justice that by January 6, they needed to identify the documents and explain what was on Pam Bondi's desk. So this guy named Sean o' Neill, and all of these documents are up on Legal AF substack for you to read. Guy named Sean o', Neill, Chief of Staff of the Office of Information Policy and responsible for responding to Freedom of Information act request filed. What he did, and he said he went through the Department of Justice materials and on page four, he reveals the following. In the filing, based on the substance of the request which you heard, they've determined that the oag, the Office of the Attorney General, was the appropriate office to search. As a result of this search, OIP was informed that's his organization. That there are no records responsive to plaintiffs request for the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients. Now remember, if they don't provide the list, I tell you who will. Survivors will. Lisa Phillips, a client of mine and an Epstein survivor, said as much on Capitol Hill that if they don't produce the client list, you know who will. The couple of thousand Epstein survivors and victims who know who abused them and they will provide the list. Here's a clip of Lisa Phillips I.

[Pam Bondi]

Would like to announce here today, us Epstein survivors have been discussing creating our own list. We know the names. Many of us were abused by them. Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names. We all know who are regularly in the Epstein world and it will be done by survivors and for survivors, no one else is involved. Stay tuned for more details.

[Michael Popak]

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Even if you don't have a dog yourself, you still want the dogs you love. To get the same quality food you'd want for your own family. Real ingredients, no fillers and something that actually supports their health. And the best part, you just scoop and serve. No freezer, no thawing or prep, no mess. Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com legalafe50 and get 50% off your first order. Or you can use code legal af50 at checkout. That's 50% off your first order at Sundays for dogs.com legalaf50 Sundays for dogs.com legalaf50 or use code legal a50 at checkout. So back to their response that the Judge found insufficient. He basically declares there is no Epstein client list. And they've done a systemic review of the Epstein material and they've revealed no incriminating client list based on a July 7 memo. That was that. That the Justice Department set out, totally undermining Pam Bondi. Now, Pam Bondi is going to be appearing before the House Oversight Committee next week, and that's going to be required watching here on Midas Touch and Legal af. We'll run it live. Now we move to a court hearing in front of a Judge Moss. And he said, listen, I'm not playing a game of Gotcha. He said, this is not sufficient. I want a Pam Bondi Attorney General declaration identifying what the heck she was referring to when she said these client documents, Epstein files and client list was sitting on her desk. That's all. And then once I know the answer to that, I'll decide whether the government has complied with its FOIA responsibilities yet. But I can't do that until you give me a proper declaration. So, no, Pam Bondi is not off the hook yet. And these are the same questions that the Senate Judiciary Committee led by Senator Senator Blumenthal, the House Democratic Judiciary Committee led by ranking member Jamie Raskin. For the Democrats, they're going to be asking her these hard questions. Where are the client lists? Where are the documents? Now, they've tried to constantly conflate and redefine the Epstein files in an elaborate shell game to hide them from the American people. First, the Department of Justice said, and Pam Bondi said, the files are on her desk, as you heard. Then they said, no, the files are with federal judges, and we got to go get federal judges. We'd love to produce them, but the federal judges have to give us that permission. So they said, well, we have to go to Florida for some Epstein files, in New York for some Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell's case and Epstein's case. And then when those federal judges said, we'll release what we have, but you have the giant pile of Epstein files, they then went to Congress and said, oh, we'd love to produce them, but Congress has to give us the permission, which is completely a non sequitur, completely a violation of separation of powers. The documents that we refer to as the Epstein files, which is everything in the executive branch, not just the Department of Justice, not just the FBI, has never resided with Congress, Congress has always resided with the executive branch. And the executive branch has never needed the Congressional branch, the legislative branch, to give them permission to release the documents that was just a ruse. That was just a charade that they tried to pull on the American people. We'd love to produce them, but we're waiting for Congress to give us the permission. So they wasted more time. Bad things are happening. Make it happen slower. So they waited for the Epstein Transparency act and then they fought against it until Representatives Massie and Khanna got 208 shamed effectively five or six Republicans into supporting the 200 and signing the 218 signatures that are required for the discharge petition to get the Epstein act on the House floor for a vote. And then everybody joined in but one. Delay, delay, delay, delay, delay. And still we don't have the things the Treasury Department has like the Internal Revenue Service, bank records, how to track the money flow. We just have the DOJ and FBI files. But we've got these separate cases that I'm following for you here. The case in front of Judge Moss brought by Jimmy Tobias. The case brought by Democracy Forward in front of Judge Chutkan for the communications between Epstein and Donald Trump. The case brought by the national enquirer in the 2nd Circuit to get all the Epstein files. And you can see judges are not going to allow the Department of Justice to point to the 3 million, which is half or one tenth of the entire pile of Epstein documents, and get away with it. I'll continue to follow it. All right here. You're on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal AF. Come over to Legal AF YouTube channel. Hit the free subscribe button. Become a Legal AF substacker. That's a new word. A Legal AF substacker. 35% off on Legal AF substack annual membership going on right now till my next report. I'm Michael Popak. Can't get your fill of Legal af. Me neither. That's why we formed the Legal AF Substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do called Wait for it Morning af. What else? All the other contributors from Legal AOFF are there as well. We got some new reporting, we got interviews, we got ad free versions of the podcast and hot takes where Legal AF on substack. Come over now to Free Subscribe.

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