Former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions about President Trump's involvement in the release of Jeffrey Epstein case files, defending the administration's actions while victims' advocates protested outside.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday for a closed-door deposition, where she steadfastly refused to answer questions about President Donald Trump's role in the release of Jeffrey Epstein 's case files .
The hearing, held at the Rayburn House Office Building, quickly turned contentious as Democratic lawmakers accused Bondi of evading scrutiny. Bondi, who served as attorney general under Trump in 2025 and early 2026, maintained that the process to release the files was handled properly under the direction of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, now acting attorney general.
In her opening statement, she declared that justice and transparency had been delivered at the president's instruction, according to a copy of her remarks. But when pressed about Trump's prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes or his involvement in the release timeline, Bondi repeatedly declined to answer, citing her voluntary appearance and consulting with a Justice Department lawyer. Representative Dave Min of California called the proceeding a sham, stating that Bondi was not answering any questions.
Representative James Walkinshaw of Virginia recounted asking Bondi whether Trump had knowledge of Epstein's crimes before they became public; he said Bondi replied, I am not certain of the extent of his knowledge. The deposition is part of a broader congressional investigation into the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case files, which were mandated for release by a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump last year.
The Justice Department released a batch of documents in March, but the process was criticized for including personal information of potential victims and for significant redaction errors. Bondi acknowledged these mistakes but largely defended the department's work, calling it an unprecedented commitment to transparency. The hearing also touched on the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, who was convicted of luring teenage girls for Epstein to abuse.
The Justice Department moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a Texas prison camp last August, a decision that has drawn scrutiny. Lawmakers are seeking to understand the prosecutorial decisions regarding Epstein associates and whether Trump intervened. Outside the hearing room, several survivors of Epstein's abuse gathered to make their presence known. They attempted to speak with Bondi as she entered but said they were shoved aside by police officers.
Danielle Bensky, one of the survivors, expressed hope that Bondi would remember her humanity and find compassion beyond political rhetoric. The survivors also confronted committee chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, urging him to hold Bondi accountable for the release of files that exposed victims' personal details. Comer told them he would push for the complete release of all case files as mandated by law.
The emotionally charged atmosphere underscored the deep divisions over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein matter. Bondi's defiance has fueled Democratic demands for a full investigation, while Republicans maintain that the administration has complied with the law. The deposition is expected to continue behind closed doors as lawmakers seek further testimony from Justice Department officials. The case remains a flashpoint in Washington, with victims and advocates demanding justice and transparency.
As the hearing resumed, the question of Trump's involvement lingered unanswered, leaving the committee to decide its next steps in a politically charged environment that shows no signs of cooling down
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