The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein file saga continues to rattle D.C.—and now, former White House special counsel Ty Cobb is weighing in on the political calculus behind the drama.
Speaking Friday on CNN’s OutFront, Cobb made it clear: Attorney General Pam Bondi isn’t going anywhere, despite the mounting controversy and internal tension at the DOJ. According to Cobb, the real reason is simple—President Trump isn’t about to cut loose a top appointee and invite unnecessary political embarrassment.
“Bondi… is very senior to the other people in their departments who are screwing up,” Cobb said bluntly. “And while they’ve both been a huge embarrassment and done some just astonishing things… if [Trump] terminates one of them… it’ll be a huge embarrassment to him.”
At the heart of Cobb’s analysis is something long understood in Trump-world: loyalty and optics matter. Trump’s appointments—especially those in high-profile roles like Bondi’s—aren’t just employees. They’re reflections of his leadership. Cutting them loose amid controversy risks handing political ammo to critics eager to call his personnel decisions into question.
That’s why, even with internal clashes reportedly boiling between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Cobb sees the outcome as a foregone conclusion.
“Bongino either has to come back from the weekend and say, ‘Gee, sorry I had a bad day,’ or he’s gone,” Cobb remarked. “Because Bondi’s not going.”
Host Erin Burnett cut to the chase: “So, Bondi versus Bongino, to Trump, you have no question that Trump would choose Bondi?”
Cobb didn’t hesitate. “That’s true,” he replied.
This isn’t just palace intrigue—it’s another reminder of how personnel politics in Washington often trumps performance. Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files may have drawn criticism, but from Trump’s vantage point, protecting his handpicked inner circle takes precedence over bowing to pressure. That’s especially true with 2024 behind him and political legacy now front and center.
As conservative observers have often pointed out, this is why institutions must be built on accountability, not allegiance. The American people deserve transparency—particularly in matters as serious as the Epstein case. But as it stands, the internal tug-of-war over who stays and who goes appears less about delivering answers and more about shielding reputations.
One thing’s clear: if Cobb is right, Bongino’s future at the DOJ is hanging by a thread, while Bondi’s position—at least for now—remains secure behind the bulwark of Trump’s political pride.
