AG Bondi takes another stab at releasing Epstein files

Attorney General Pam Bondi continues to take on criticism for her handling of the Epstein files. Her earlier attempt to release the files of a retired New York dentist, whose last name happened to be Epstein, was met with mixed reviews. The online site associated with the late movie critic Roger Ebert only gave it two molars.

So, Bondi has decided to release more Epstein files in the hope of quelling much of the criticism. This time, they are the files regarding Juan Epstein, a character from the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back Kotter.

“We believe Juan Epstein was a prominent member of the gang known as the Sweathogs,” Bondi said in a statement. “While Mr. Kotter appears to have been some sort of ringleader of the group, Epstein figures prominently in the group’s hijinx.”

Bondi’s statement went on to note that while some of the antics of the Sweathogs may have been mildly amusing back in the 1970s, it really doesn’t hold up, given the sensibilities of 2025.

Some in the media have questioned why Bondi chose to single out Juan Epstein, given that he was not the main star of the show. And Vinnie Barbarino, played by John Travolta, was the breakout star, leading him to star in Saturday Night Fever.

“While Epstein may not have been the primary character in Welcome Back Kotter, his fingerprints are all over it. Just watch a few reruns in syndication and you’ll see what I mean. As for Travolta, we’ll be dealing with him separately. He, along with the Bee Gees, did more harm to the United States by popularizing disco than anything since the Civil War. We will not rest until he, too, is brought to justice.”

Bondi is certain this will put to rest the criticism she has been facing. Meanwhile, President Trump gave lukewarm support to Bondi’s latest file release.

“I don’t know, I kind of liked the hijinx of the Sweathogs,” Trump said. “I like the word hijinx. It’s a good word.”