Bondi Faces Closed-Door Epstein Files Questioning After Ouster

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will appear Friday before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview on the Department of Justice handling of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The session comes after months of disputes over compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and follows Bondi's removal from office earlier this year.

The committee issued a subpoena in March while Bondi still held the post. Lawmakers from both parties sought details on the department's review and release of millions of pages of material. The law set a December 19 deadline, yet the department delivered what it described as the complete files on January 31. Bondi has attributed the delay to the volume of records and the limited time available for review by government lawyers.

Critics including survivors of Epstein's crimes and Democratic members of the committee have pointed to several issues with the process. They cite statements by Bondi that appeared inconsistent about the contents of the files, the disclosure of personal information belonging to victims, and questions over whether certain documents connected to President Trump were omitted. House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia has stated that Bondi must provide answers about the files. Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari has expressed hope that the interview will address gaps in the public record.

Bondi has maintained that the department followed legal requirements. She has noted the practical constraints created by congressional deadlines and defended the overall effort to make the material available. The Trump administration initially resisted the subpoena after Bondi left office, arguing that former officials should not be compelled to testify on matters from their prior roles. The committee proceeded with the interview after Democrats advanced a civil contempt resolution.

Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. During the presidential campaign Trump pledged greater transparency on the case. Some of his supporters and opponents alike have argued that the eventual release fell short of that commitment. The committee has also examined related matters such as the sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell.

The interview will occur behind closed doors and could last several hours. Earlier public briefings on the files produced sharp exchanges, with Democrats walking out of one session led by Bondi and then Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Committee Chairman James Comer has framed the inquiry as an examination of the department's compliance and investigative steps. Bondi previously faced public questioning on the same topic during her tenure.

The process illustrates recurring difficulties in managing large scale government document releases under fixed timetables. Past congressional actions on similar high profile cases have often produced incomplete records or prolonged disputes rather than swift clarity. Bondi's appearance marks her first return to Capitol Hill since leaving the Justice Department.