Pam Bondi defends DoJ handling of Epstein files, refuses to answer questions about Trump's involvement

May 29, 2026

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files in a House committee interview, while admitting to "redaction errors" that exposed victims' data. Citing her voluntary appearance, she refused to answer questions about President Trump's involvement. Democrats criticized the interview as a "sham," while Epstein survivors gathered at the Capitol to advocate for transparency and justice.

Bondi Capitol Hill testimony

▪Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight Committee on May 29, 2026, for a closed-door, transcribed interview.
▪Pam Bondi stated she delegated oversight of the Epstein file release process to then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is now the acting attorney general.
▪Pam Bondi defended the Department of Justice's work on the Epstein files, claiming it demonstrated "an unprecedented commitment to transparency."

Trump involvement questions

▪Pam Bondi refused to answer questions from lawmakers about her conversations with President Donald Trump regarding the Epstein files.
▪Accompanied by a Department of Justice lawyer, Pam Bondi cited her voluntary appearance as justification for declining to answer questions about President Trump.
▪In her opening statement, Pam Bondi asserted that "justice and transparency" in the Epstein matter were "delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration."

Epstein files redaction errors

▪The Justice Department's release of the files was delayed and included personal information and nude photos of several potential victims.
▪The Department of Justice missed the Epstein Files Transparency Act's December 19 deadline, instead releasing the files on January 31.
▪Pam Bondi conceded that the Department of Justice made "redaction errors" in its release of the Epstein case files.

Survivors advocacy at Capitol

▪The survivors confronted committee chair Rep. James Comer, who told them he would press for the complete release of the case files.
▪Survivor Maria Farmer released a statement saying Pam Bondi's "continued evasion of questions" was a "pattern of behavior."
▪Several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse gathered outside the Capitol office where Pam Bondi's interview was taking place.

Congressional subpoena enforcement dispute

▪After President Trump removed Pam Bondi from her role, Democrats filed a civil contempt of Congress resolution against her.
▪Pam Bondi agreed to a transcribed interview rather than a sworn deposition, an arrangement Democrats criticized for allowing her to decline questions.
▪The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Pam Bondi in March in a bipartisan vote while she was still attorney general.