Pam Bondi has emerged from self-exile following right-wing blowback over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and is reasserting control over the Justice Department and her role as attorney general.

President Donald Trump has fiercely resisted calls to release the files over the summer, at times calling the issue a "hoax" pushed by the Democrats.

"Innocent people shouldn’t be hurt but I’m in support of keeping it totally open, I couldn’t care less," Trump said during a White House event Aug 22.