INTERNACIONAL
Bondi’s replacement saddled with Epstein baggage as he awaits grueling confirmation battle
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Former Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that Todd Blanche, who at the time was second in command at the Justice Department, was put in charge of the release of the millions of documents from the Epstein files during her closed-door hearing before Congress late last month.
«As the head of a large department with broad responsibilities, I did not lead every aspect of this effort nor conduct that document review myself,» Bondi said during the hearing. «I delegated that oversight over this process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.»
The House Oversight Committee released its transcript from Bondi’s May 29 hearing just a day after President Donald Trump announced he intended to nominate Blanche as his permanent attorney general nominee, potentially complicating Blanche’s confirmation as senators on both sides of the political aisle have heavily criticized the files’ rollout.
Blanche has been serving as Acting Attorney General since April 2, when Trump announced Bondi’s dismissal.
LAPSED EPSTEIN DEADLINE UNDERSCORES CHALLENGE OF REVIEWING TROVES OF FILES IN 30 DAYS
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on June 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The release of the transcript, which placed responsibility for the Epstein files rollout squarely on Blanche’s shoulders, comes just days after Blanche announced during a hearing that the Justice Department will be eliminating its controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was created to compensate alleged victims of politicized prosecution and labeled a «slush fund» for Trump and his supporters by critics. The Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and the Anti-Weaponization Fund, both overseen by Blanche, has drawn concern from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Bondi’s testimony revealed that Blanche had been her point man on the Epstein files and was tasked with briefing her on the release of the Epstein files.
The former attorney general found herself in hot water last July following a joint release by the Justice Department and FBI finding that there was no evidence that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who is alleged to have hundreds of underage victims, had kept a client list.
BONDI SAYS EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST ‘SITTING ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW’, AND IS REVIEWING JFK, MLK FILES
Then-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 11, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The joint statement, which Bondi said during May’s hearing was penned by Blanche and not her, comes after months of the Trump administration teasing the release of the Epstein files. In February 2025, Fox News’ John Roberts asked Bondi about the release of Epstein’s «client list,» which Bondi responded by saying that it was «sitting on her desk.» Bondi and the White House clarified after the fact that she was referring to the files as a whole and not Epstein’s «client list.»
Members of Congress asked Bondi why Blanche interviewed Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was in prison, weeks after the joint memo release. Bondi replied by saying Blanche «was leading the Epstein matter and the release of everything from the beginning.»
Once Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, Bondi stated Blanche oversaw the release of millions of documents, which entailed overseeing the redaction process, including its protocols and guidelines, determining which documents were privileged and making corrections to redactions.
Rep. Thomas Massie speaks alongside Reps. Ro Khanna and Marjorie Taylor Greene during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18, 2025. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
DOJ’S EPSTEIN DISCLOSURE DRAWS FIRE FOR WEBSITE GLITCHES, MISSING DOCUMENTS, REDACTIONS
«He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files,» Bondi said.
But the Justice Department faced scrutiny over failures to redact all identifiable information from some of Epstein’s victims, allegations that some redactions were heavy-handed and that some documents were completely missing, prompting a bipartisan group of senators to send a letter in March requesting that the Government Accountability Office lead an investigation into the Justice Department’s redaction process.
«Not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public,» the letter stated. «Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.»
SENATE REPUBLICAN DEMANDS STATE, FEDERAL COURTS ‘IMMEDIATELY UNSEAL ALL’ EPSTEIN DOCS
However, Bondi said during the hearing that she was not blaming Blanche and that the error rate for the redaction was 1%, which was what Blanche had told her.
«He managed this investigation — and it was a Herculean task — with very little error,» Bondi said during the hearing. «And Todd did an excellent job, in my opinion, and is doing an excellent job as our Attorney General.»
Following her closed-door testimony, Bondi pushed back on allegations from Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., that she is pushing the blame of the Epstein Files rollouts on Blanche.
«NOT TRUE,» Bondi posted on X. «I praised Acting AG Blanche’s management of this Herculean task. I said his ethics are beyond reproach and that he is an incredible Attorney General.»
A White House spokesperson said that Blanche was doing an «excellent job» and will continue to perform well.
«Todd Blanche is an American patriot who fearlessly fought on behalf of President Trump against the Democrats’ illegal and unprecedented lawfare campaign,» said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman. «The President’s entire team at the Department of Justice is doing a great job advocating for sanity, law and order, and policies that keep Americans safe.»
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Blanche’s nomination is also expected to face scrutiny from Democrats who have questioned whether the former Trump defense attorney can serve as an independent attorney general. Last month, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., launched a Senate Judiciary Committee inquiry based on allegations that Blanche disregarded ethics guidance advising him to recuse himself from matters at the Justice Department involving Trump, who he previously served as a personal lawyer to.
Fox News Digital reached out to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership and the Justice Department for comment.
attorney general, jeffrey epstein, pam bondi, ghislaine maxwell, justice department, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Iran nuclear deal hinges on IAEA access to long-blocked atomic weapon sites, experts say
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Having crushed Iran’s nuclear capabilities during two wars in joint attacks with the Israelis, the latest and most significant chapter of whether there will be peace is whether the regime will allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to its nuclear weapons facilities.
Conflicting statements and reports from President Trump and Iran’s Foreign Ministry suggest the U.N.’s IAEA will face the same recalcitrant policy from Tehran it has experienced for two decades in blocking its inspectors from conducting robust verification of the clerical regime’s vast nuclear facilities, including underground compounds. The IAEA sticking point might be a deal-breaker for President Trump.
David Albright, who is widely viewed as one of the world’s leading experts on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, told Fox News Digital the «IAEA comes up short» in its efforts to secure information and verification about Iran’s nuclear weapons program because «Iran has not cooperated for twenty years.»
THE RACE AGAINST TIME TO DESTROY IRAN’S ILLICIT NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM HEATS UP AMID FRESH STRIKES
Unidentified International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors at the nuclear research center of Natanz on Jan. 20, 2014. (Kazem Ghane /IRNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security said, «Iran loves to generate plans of action that can be extended» and the process becomes a «pointless exercise.»
For Iran experts like Albright, Iran’s skill in the art of procrastination has allowed it to stretch out talks over the decades while working to advance its work on a nuclear weapons device and a missile system to deliver it.
As a result, Albright said «it colors my view of the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]» agreed to between the U.S. and Iran that codifies IAEA inspections of Iran’s atomic weapons program.
Albright sees the IAEA as a key test for the success of U.S.-Iran talks. «The way Iran treats the IAEA will tell us if the negotiations are meaningful,» adding that Tehran’s regime has treated the IAEA terribly in the past.
OBAMA-ERA INSPECTION FLAWS IN IRAN COULD PERSIST AS EXPERTS WARN OF NUCLEAR BLIND SPOTS
President Donald Trump (C) gestures as he addresses the media alongside United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (L), U.S. Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick (2L), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2R) and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (R) during a closing press conference at the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
The website of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared in a statement that «Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking to reporters, denied reports published by certain media outlets claiming that the Islamic Republic of Iran has invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its nuclear facilities.»
A headline in the Islamic Republic News Agency Wednesday stated, «No plan for access to Iran’s attacked nuclear facilities without final deal, says deputy FM.» The regime-controlled outlet noted that Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on his X account that no meeting was held with Grossi in Switzerland, despite the IAEA head requesting that Iran meet with him. «There is no plan for access to the facilities that were attacked or to the nuclear materials,» Gharibabadi wrote.
On Friday in Japan, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi told reporters, «This agreement expressly indicates that the nuclear part will be supervised, monitored, by the IAEA.» He added that «a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was subscribed by the two presidents, by President Donald Trump and President Pezeshkian from Iran, and this agreement expressly indicates that the nuclear part will be supervised, monitored, by the IAEA.»
He noted that «initial conversations» have started about inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites. «We hope to be there soon,» he said. It is unclear if Grossi’s team will examine all Iranian nuclear weapons facilities and suspected nuclear sites.
The IAEA declined to answer a detailed Fox News Digital press query on why previous IAEA oversight efforts failed; what would be different this time; whether inspectors can access meaningful sites or only symbolic locations; and would the IAEA focus on access to the Pickaxe Mountain facility versus sites already damaged or buried.
IRAN EXPANDS WEAPONIZATION CAPABILITIES CRITICAL FOR EMPLOYING NUCLEAR BOMB
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi meets with Iran’s then Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran, Iran, on May 6, 2024. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA)
Albright said Israel’s government has identified ten or more sites where Iran is suspected of being involved in nuclear weapons. The IAEA spokesman declined to comment on whether their inspectors will demand to visit those sites.
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital that «Iran should be made to come clean and allow inspections not only at declared nuclear sites — especially the ones damaged during Operation Midnight Hammer — but also at universities, military bases and other state organizations that have been used to engage in dual-use research which is applicable to the development of a nuclear weapon should there be a leadership decision to do so. Inspections on Iran’s nuclear weaponization program were not part of the original 2015 JCPOA, which was one of its weaknesses.»
The JCPOA, whose formal name is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was negotiated by former President Obama’s administration in 2015. Albright, a sharp critic of the JCPOA, said the Obama deal accepted that Iran did not cooperate and «swept it under the rug.» Albright warned that «It is really important that the U.S. [Trump administration] not do a JCPOA.»
TRUMP’S NEW IRAN DEAL FACES NUCLEAR BLIND SPOT OVER URANIUM STOCKPILE, EXPERTS WARN
Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018. He said at the time the JCPOA was a «horrible one-sided deal that should never ever have been made.»
Brodsky stressed that «Any new agreement should include more robust inspection powers. Iran’s denial of inspections at the damaged nuclear facilities since June 2025 violates its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.»
When asked about the IAEA’s impotence with respect to intrusive sanctions on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a White House spokeswoman referred Fox News Digital to Vice President JD Vance and Grossi’s comments.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to members of the media after the U.S. and Iran held high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict at the Lake Lucerne Summit, near Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Howard / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
«The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearize, easing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran,» Vance said on Monday. He added, «And that’s exactly what we wanted to do. That’s exactly what we asked to happen.»
President Trump wrote on Truth Social: «Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary, coupled with the drumbeat of the Fake News, which is doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible, Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!). This will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty.’ If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations! «
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The Islamic Republic’s spokesman to the U.N. did not respond to a Fox News Digital press query.
The U.S. State Department declined to comment.
war with iran, nuclear proliferation, united nations, iran, sanctions, donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
“Innovar es más fácil de lo que se piensa”: especialistas internacionales exponen claves empresariales en el International FACEM Day
La Universidad César Vallejo (UCV) organizó el International FACEM Day, un encuentro académico que convocó a especialistas internacionales, estudiantes, egresados y ejecutivos para analizar los principales desafíos del entorno empresarial, con énfasis en la geopolítica, la innovación y la inteligencia artificial.
El evento se desarrolló de manera presencial el 22 de junio en Trujillo, el 23 en Lima y el 24 en Piura, como parte de una iniciativa de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales orientada a vincular la formación académica con las dinámicas del mundo corporativo.
“La innovación es más fácil de lo que piensan”, señaló Alfons Cornella, fundador de Infonomia y del Institute of Next, durante su participación, al destacar que innovar no depende del tamaño de una empresa ni de grandes recursos, sino de la capacidad de observar el entorno y resolver problemas relevantes.
Durante la jornada, los especialistas coincidieron en que el contexto global está marcado por cambios estructurales que impactan directamente en la toma de decisiones empresariales. En ese sentido, Xavier Gimbert Rafols, decano de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales de la UCV, subrayó que la geopolítica se ha convertido en un factor determinante.
“La geopolítica te puede cambiar el rumbo absolutamente”, afirmó, al explicar que este elemento ha pasado a ser tan relevante como el mercado o la competencia dentro de la estrategia empresarial, debido a su carácter disruptivo e impredecible.
En la misma línea, Ángel Pascual-Ramseay, profesor de Geopolítica y Geoeconomía en Esade Business School y exasesor del presidente de España, advirtió que el mundo atraviesa un proceso de transformación hacia un nuevo equilibrio global. “Estamos entrando en un nuevo paradigma geopolítico”, indicó, al referirse a un escenario de multipolaridad y fragmentación que incrementa los riesgos y la complejidad económica.
Según explicó, este contexto puede generar impactos directos en la economía a través del uso de herramientas comerciales y financieras por parte de los Estados, así como afectar la globalización, que podría pasar de ser un motor de crecimiento a una fuente de vulnerabilidad.
En cuanto a la innovación, Cornella enfatizó que las soluciones más efectivas surgen de identificar problemas concretos y ofrecer respuestas más eficientes, más que de ideas complejas en apariencia.
Asimismo, destacó el rol de la curiosidad como elemento central en este proceso. “La curiosidad es lo que te mantiene vivo”, afirmó, al señalar que esta cualidad permite detectar oportunidades y adaptarse a un entorno en constante cambio, incluso en un contexto marcado por el avance de la inteligencia artificial.
Gimbert coincidió en que la innovación y la creatividad constituyen una vía clave de diferenciación en el ámbito empresarial, y remarcó que estas capacidades están al alcance de cualquier organización.
Los especialistas también destacaron la importancia de que estos conceptos sean incorporados desde la etapa formativa. Pascual-Ramseay sostuvo que es esencial que los jóvenes desarrollen pensamiento crítico, criterio propio y comprensión del contexto global, dado que enfrentarán un entorno más complejo e inestable.
En esa línea, señaló que la educación debe enfocarse en brindar herramientas para que los estudiantes construyan su propio análisis, más que en transmitir respuestas únicas.
Por su parte, Gimbert indicó que comprender estos factores desde el inicio permite a los estudiantes fortalecer su formación y tomar mejores decisiones en el futuro profesional, al tratarse de elementos transversales en la gestión empresarial.
El International FACEM Day integró aprendizaje intensivo, networking y experiencias académicas con un enfoque aplicado. La Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales de la UCV destacó que este tipo de iniciativas forman parte de una estrategia orientada a promover la internacionalización, el aprendizaje práctico y la conexión con la realidad empresarial.
Según lo informado, el evento registró una alta participación en los distintos campus y contó con la intervención de especialistas internacionales de primer nivel, lo que permitió enriquecer el debate y fortalecer la formación de los asistentes.
Los organizadores señalaron que este tipo de espacios busca no solo beneficiar a estudiantes y egresados, sino también aportar al desarrollo del entorno empresarial y a la sociedad en general.
INTERNACIONAL
Ex-Trump official John Bolton pleads guilty to 1 of 18 counts in classified docs indictment
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Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to only one count of an 18-count indictment, but he will not be sentenced until the fall.
During a hearing at the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland, Bolton pleaded guilty to the twelfth count, alleging he had unauthorized possession of a document related to national defense.
The count typically has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, but both sides agreed that five years will be the most prison time that can be imposed.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes addressed reporters outside the courthouse, emphasizing that this case demonstrated that «no one is above the law.» Hayes declined to take questions.
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON TO PLEAD GUILTY TO RETAINING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SOURCES
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026, in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Al Drago)
«The rules governing classified and national defense information apply equally to everyone, regardless of position, and regardless of how long you have served with the United States government,» Hayes began her brief remarks.
«The national defense information at issue in this case was classified at the highest classification levels,» Hayes added. «It contained human intelligence using sensitive sources and methods, and it discussed a covert action program. Mr. Bolton admitted he shared more than 1,000 pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the national security advisor.»
A prosecutor from the Department of Justice told Judge Theodore Chuang that Bolton also faces a fine of $2.25 million, half of which should be paid within 5 days, a required debrief with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release and up to 100 hours of community service.
Bolton, who served as national security advisor from April 2018 to September 2019, agreed that he would not get an annuity or retirement from his federal service.
When the judge asked Bolton if he was pleading guilty after having heard the summary of facts in the case, the former Trump official said: «I am your honor, and I’m sorry for it.»
The sentencing was set for October 28. The government plans to dismiss the remaining counts at that hearing.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton walks through security as he arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026 in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Al Drago)
By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. Chuang said Bolton will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes.
Authorities first raided Bolton’s home and office in August of last year. He was indicted in October, originally being charged with both transmission and retention of classified documents.
JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
According to the indictment, the documents Bolton illegally kept had intelligence about future attacks by an adversarial group in another country.
Then-National Security Advisor John R. Bolton listens as then-President Donald J. Trump meets with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House July 18, 2019, in Washington. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Prosecutors said the documents also contained information about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with the U.S. intelligence community, as well as intelligence that a foreign adversary was planning a missile launch in the future.
Many of the documents were labeled «TOP SECRET,» according to prosecutors.
«From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor,» the indictment read.
BOLTON MAY BE IN HOT WATER AS FBI INVESTIGATION EXPANDS BEYOND CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
FBI agents raid the Bethesda, Maryland, home of John Bolton on August 22, 2025. (Andrew Harnik)
«BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland,» it continued.
Bolton shared this information with two family members through his personal email account, according to prosecutors.
That email account, per court records, was hacked by someone believed to be associated with Iran after Bolton left office.
Since Bolton’s departure, him and Trump have been bitter enemies, with the two men frequently attacking each other over foreign policy disagreements.
Copies of the new book ‘The Room Where It Happened’ by John Bolton are displayed at Book Passage on June 23, 2020 in Corte Madera, California. (Justin Sullivan)
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At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton, but Bolton claimed he resigned of his own accord.
Bolton published a memoir in 2020 titled «The Room Where It Happened,» which characterized Trump as an erratic and irrational leader.
The Trump administration sued to block the book’s release, claiming it contained national security secrets that were classified. A federal judge allowed the book to hit shelves, and Bolton was never prosecuted for anything that was included in it.
donald trump, politics, federal courts, national security
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