Attorney General Pam Bondi canceled her scheduled appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference’s (CPAC) Summit Against Human Trafficking on Wednesday due to a medical issue, according to a statement read aloud at the event in Washington, D.C.
As Fox News reported, Bondi, who was expected to speak at the summit alongside several senior Trump administration officials, is currently recovering from a torn cornea.
Her absence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, who shared her statement with the attendees.
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"I'm sorry to miss all of my CPAC friends today," Bondi said in the statement.
"Unfortunately, I am recovering from a recently torn cornea, which is preventing me from being with you. I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue."
The crowd responded with light applause after the statement was read. Galeotti, acknowledging the disappointment, added, "We appreciate the applause for her and not boos for me. So I will do my best to fill those big shoes."
Bondi’s health condition was not elaborated on further by the Department of Justice.
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Other administration officials did attend and speak at the summit, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan.
The event focused on law enforcement efforts and policy discussions to combat human trafficking, an issue prioritized by the administration.
Bondi’s absence comes amid renewed public scrutiny over her role in the handling of sealed documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal stated that Bondi informed President Donald Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in Epstein-related documents.
Earlier this year, Bondi stated that she had an Epstein “client list” on her desk. However, she later clarified that she had been referring to the broader Epstein case file, not a list of clients.
President Trump has responded to the renewed focus on Epstein’s connections by dismissing the continued demands for document releases, stating, “He’s dead. He’s gone.”
He went on to say, “All it is, is the Republicans, certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats, and they’re following a Democrat playbook and no different than Russia, Russia, Russia and all the other hoaxes.”
Trump also said Bondi is authorized to release “whatever’s credible” in relation to the case, and defended her handling of the issue.
In response to growing pressure, the administration requested that a judge unseal grand jury transcripts from Epstein’s Florida proceedings, but the court denied the motion.
Despite the controversy, Bondi continues to play a key role in the administration’s legal and investigative strategy, including efforts surrounding high-profile criminal cases and federal transparency.
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