Pam Bondi Defends Handling of Epstein Files Release

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi has defended her handling of the release of records linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during testimony before a congressional committee in Washington.

Get today's headlines by email

Bondi, who was removed from her role by US President Donald Trump in April, appeared behind closed doors before the US House Oversight Committee on Friday as lawmakers investigated whether the Justice Department properly complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

In opening remarks, Bondi said the department had shown “an unprecedented commitment to transparency” by reviewing and producing nearly three million pages of material related to Epstein. She maintained that, to the best of her knowledge, the department released all records required under the law.

Questions Over File Releases

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Trump, required the Justice Department to release unclassified records connected to Epstein. Bondi oversaw the process while serving as attorney general.

However, the release of the documents drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Critics accused the department of withholding material and failing to adequately protect victims’ identities in some files that became public.

Committee chairman James Comer said lawmakers were investigating possible mismanagement of the release process and whether additional records could legally be disclosed.

Speaking before the hearing, Comer said previous administrations had failed Epstein’s victims and stressed that the committee wanted full transparency.

“We’re going to try to determine whether or not there could be more documents legally turned over,” Comer told reporters.

Democrats on the committee later accused Bondi of avoiding key questions during the interview. Representative Robert Garcia said Bondi refused to answer questions related to Trump, while Representative Melanie Stansbury alleged Justice Department lawyers intervened to limit her testimony.

Stansbury described the proceedings as a “cover-up” and claimed officials were preventing Bondi from discussing conversations with Trump.

Bondi denied accusations that she attempted to shift responsibility for the handling of the files to former deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, who is now serving as acting attorney general.

In a post online, she praised Blanche’s handling of the matter and described his ethics as “beyond reproach”.

Victims and Political Fallout

Epstein survivor Maria Farmer also criticised Bondi’s testimony, accusing her of ignoring survivors’ concerns and refusing to accept responsibility for mistakes made during the document release process.

The Trump administration has faced sustained bipartisan pressure over the handling of Epstein-related records, including criticism over failures to redact victims’ names. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

Bondi also faced renewed scrutiny over comments she made during a 2025 interview with Fox News in which she said a list of Epstein’s high-profile clients was “sitting on my desk right now”. The Justice Department later clarified that she had been referring to the overall case file, not a separate client list.

During her time as attorney general, Bondi was also criticised by Democrats who accused her of using the Justice Department to pursue Trump’s political opponents.

Health and Future Role

Earlier this week, Bondi revealed she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was undergoing treatment, including surgery performed several weeks ago. She disclosed the diagnosis during an interview with CBS News.

Bondi is expected to join the White House’s Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a newly formed advisory body focused on artificial intelligence.

The congressional committee investigating the Epstein files has already interviewed several high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Committee chairman Comer said philanthropist Bill Gates is expected to testify in the coming weeks.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 30 May 2026