Former Attorney General Pam Bondi faced intense questioning during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee about the Department of Justice’s management of files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. This marked Bondi’s first public appearance since her thyroid cancer diagnosis, visible through a neck bandage as she entered Capitol Hill. She opened by expressing sympathy for Epstein’s victims and urged anyone with information about their abuse to come forward to the FBI.
The hearing comes amid ongoing disputes over the completeness and transparency of the DOJ’s investigation into Epstein and his associates. Bondi insisted that the investigation under former President Trump’s administration upheld justice and transparency. She refuted earlier allegations that a so-called “client list” of Epstein’s associates was withheld, emphasizing that relevant documents had been reviewed and made accessible.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer criticized the investigation as incomplete, demanding full disclosure of all remaining documents from Epstein’s estate and the DOJ. He highlighted recent revelations naming potential co-conspirators by Epstein’s former assistant as a reason to push for further scrutiny. Comer spoke firmly about the government’s failings to serve survivors adequately.
Democratic Ranking Member Robert Garcia echoed concerns over the DOJ’s handling, notably pointing to an inadvertent release of victims’ personal information. Garcia accused Bondi of deflecting responsibility onto the acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, who previously served as former President Trump’s personal lawyer. He also objected to the decision to exclude video recording of Bondi’s testimony — a courtesy extended to prominent witnesses like former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in past hearings.
During the session, Bondi maintained that the DOJ’s response aligned with legal and procedural standards and that efforts were ongoing to ensure victims’ rights and case transparency. The interview forms part of a broader congressional effort to examine potential gaps in the investigation and document disclosures related to Epstein, whose extensive network of abuse has drawn bipartisan scrutiny.