Colbert Trolls Pam Bondi With Epstein-Themed Farewell Gift

The late-night host celebrated Trump's latest Cabinet firing.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:25am

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A photorealistic painting of a solitary redacted document or file folder sitting on a desk, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the surface, conveying a sense of mystery and unresolved tension.Colbert's redacted farewell letter to Bondi reflects the ongoing public frustration with the opaque handling of the Epstein investigation.NYC Today

Stephen Colbert mocked former Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal by presenting her with a redacted farewell letter, mimicking the heavily redacted Epstein files released under her tenure. Colbert argued that Bondi's mishandling of the Epstein files was likely due to pressure from President Trump, who has since fired Bondi and appointed her deputy, Todd Blanche, as the temporary replacement.

Why it matters

Bondi's controversial management of the Epstein investigation and files has been a major political issue, with critics accusing her of downplaying the significance of high-profile names mentioned and delaying the release of key information. Colbert's trolling highlights the ongoing public scrutiny and distrust surrounding the Epstein case and the Trump administration's involvement.

The details

In his Thursday monologue, Colbert mocked Bondi's handling of the Epstein files, which were heavily redacted when eventually released to the public. Colbert presented a letter to Bondi in which nearly all the words were blacked out, mirroring the redactions in the Epstein files. Colbert also argued that Bondi's mishandling of the case was likely due to pressure from President Trump, who has now fired Bondi and appointed her deputy, Todd Blanche, as the temporary replacement. Blanche has also been criticized for his approach to the Epstein files, downplaying the significance of high-profile names mentioned.

  • On Thursday, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had fired Attorney General Pam Bondi.
  • In September, Trump accidentally shared a message on Truth Social, seemingly addressed to Bondi, complaining that 'nothing is being done' about former FBI director James Comey or New York Attorney General Letitia James.
  • In July, Blanche spent two days meeting with Epstein's top associate Ghislaine Maxwell, in which he reportedly said only positive things about Trump and his relationship with Epstein.

The players

Stephen Colbert

The host of The Late Show, who mocked Pam Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Pam Bondi

The former Attorney General of Florida, who was criticized for her management of the Epstein investigation and files.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who fired Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General.

Todd Blanche

Bondi's deputy, who was appointed as the temporary replacement for the Attorney General position.

Jeffrey Epstein

The disgraced financier whose sex trafficking case and associated files have been the subject of intense public scrutiny.

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What they’re saying

“Speaking of human waste, just a few hours ago we learned that President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi.”

— Stephen Colbert, Host of The Late Show

“Saying that the villain of the Epstein files is Pam Bondi is like saying the lead in Die Hard is the dad from Family Matters.”

— Stephen Colbert, Host of The Late Show

“We will always investigate any evidence of misconduct. But as you know, it's not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General

What’s next

It remains to be seen how Blanche, Bondi's replacement, will handle the ongoing Epstein investigation and the release of the remaining files.

The takeaway

Colbert's trolling of Bondi highlights the ongoing public scrutiny and distrust surrounding the Epstein case and the Trump administration's involvement. The mishandling of the investigation and files has been a major political issue, and the public will be closely watching to see if Blanche takes a different approach.