Pam Bondi Defends DOJ Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Files In House Oversight Testimony

Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testified behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee in Washington, defending the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

“Former United States Attorney General Pam Bondi has appeared before a closed-door congressional hearing as lawmakers seek answers about unreleased documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation”

Al Jazeera

Bondi told lawmakers, "We demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to transparency in the department's search for, collection and review of the Epstein files," and said the department produced nearly 3 million pages of material.

Al Jazeera

Democrats and other critics pressed for answers about unreleased or improperly redacted records, with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer saying, "I want every document. I don’t want anything held back."

Bondi also acknowledged flaws in the release, saying, "There were redaction errors," while insisting that withheld materials were nonresponsive, privileged, or duplicative.

Bondi refused to answer questions about President Donald Trump’s involvement in the release of the Epstein files, and Democratic lawmakers said a Justice Department lawyer sitting next to her stepped in to stop her.

Rep. Robert Garcia said Bondi sought to foist blame on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Garcia said Bondi told him, "Acting Attorney General Blanche was managing the entire investigation."

BBC

Bondi defended her own role by saying she delegated oversight, telling the committee, "I delegated oversight over this process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche."

Outside the hearing, Democratic Rep. Dave Min called the process a sham, saying, "It's a sham in there. They are not answering any questions."

The House Oversight Committee said it was trying to determine whether more documents could be legally turned over, with Comer arguing, "We’re going to try to determine whether or not there can be more documents legally turned over."

Bondi’s testimony came as the Justice Department faced criticism over compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, including the department’s disclosure timeline that Democrats said fell short of the act’s December deadline.

Bondi’s defense emphasized that the department produced everything required under the act, but she also conceded, "There were redaction errors," while survivors and lawmakers continued to argue that sensitive personal information was improperly disclosed.

Beyond the Epstein probe, NBC News reported that a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from taking any action on its new $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, including disbursing payments, underscoring how courts were intervening in multiple administration initiatives.