A defiant witness behind closed doors

Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Capitol Hill on Friday for a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee, but Democratic lawmakers said she refused to discuss President Donald Trump's involvement in the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Bondi, who was fired by Trump on April 2, was accompanied by Justice Department officials including Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, acting as her counsel — an arrangement Democrats called a conflict of interest.

“Acting attorney general Blanche was managing the entire investigation.”

Bondi deflected many questions to her former deputy, Todd Blanche, who is now the acting attorney general. She told lawmakers that Blanche was responsible for much of the handling of the Epstein files, not her. In prepared remarks and on social media after the interview, Bondi defended Blanche and the Justice Department's work, calling it an unprecedented commitment to transparency.

The scope of the document release

Bondi told the committee that the Justice Department released nearly three million pages of records during her tenure, including photographs and video evidence. She described the process as "enormously complicated and labour-intensive" and insisted the department complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed by Congress in November mandating the release of all related material within 30 days.

“To the best of my knowledge, the department produced everything required under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”

However, she acknowledged that there were redaction errors in the released files. Critics have argued that the department simultaneously released the names and photographs of victims who had not been publicly identified — putting them in danger — while continuing to redact information that should have been revealed. The documents were ultimately made public on January 31, after the December deadline set by law.

Survivors demand accountability

Several survivors of Epstein's abuse gathered outside the Capitol office where the interview took place. They tried to make their presence known to Bondi as she entered the room, but several said they were shoved aside by police officers. One survivor, Charlene Richard, criticized the Justice Department's handling of the material, saying it was unacceptable that nude photos and pornography were released.

“It boggles my mind that the Department of Justice released nude photos...the Department of Justice released pornography. That is unacceptable.”

The survivors implored lawmakers to hold Bondi accountable for the release of their private information. Democratic Representative Robert Garcia of Texas criticized Committee Chairman James Comer's decision not to videotape the interview, which he said would have allowed the public to gauge Bondi's demeanor.

Political fallout and Trump's ties

Bondi's firing in April came amid reports that Trump was increasingly frustrated with her work as attorney general and her handling of the Epstein files. Trump and Epstein socialized in the 1990s and early 2000s, but Trump has repeatedly said he ended the relationship before Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. The Epstein files revealed the financier's ties to powerful people including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. All have said they had no knowledge of Epstein's alleged sex trafficking.

Despite being ousted, Bondi has remained in Trump's orbit. This week, Trump appointed her to a White House panel on artificial intelligence. Bondi also revealed this week that she is being treated for thyroid cancer. The interview with Bondi was the culmination of months of back and forth between lawmakers and the former attorney general, who was first subpoenaed in March when she was still leading the Justice Department. After her firing, Chairman Comer allowed her to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview rather than a formal deposition.