Bondi Faces Closed-Door Epstein Files Questioning After Ouster

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is set to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Friday for a closed-door interview examining the Justice Department's handling of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The session comes after months of delays, missed deadlines and accusations that the department under Bondi failed to deliver on promises of full transparency.

Bondi was subpoenaed in March while still serving as attorney general. Lawmakers from both parties sought answers about the department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of millions of pages related to the convicted sex offender. The department missed the December 19 deadline set by Congress and instead released what it described as the complete files on January 31.

Critics, including survivors of Epstein's abuse and Democratic members of the committee, have pointed to several problems with the rollout. They argue that the release included contradictory statements from Bondi about the contents, improperly disclosed names and personal information of victims, and omitted key materials connected to President Trump. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to release significant Epstein-related information. Some of his own supporters joined critics in saying the final product fell short of that pledge. Representative Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said Bondi could address missing pieces but questioned whether she would choose transparency in the interview.

Bondi has previously defended the department's work, attributing any shortcomings to the tight timeline imposed by Congress for reviewing the large volume of material. The Justice Department has maintained that it followed the law despite the delays and redactions that drew complaints from lawmakers and victims' advocates.

The interview follows earlier tensions on Capitol Hill. Democrats walked out of a March briefing hosted by Bondi and then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. After Bondi was removed from her post by Trump, the administration initially argued she should not have to testify because she no longer held the position. The committee later secured her appearance after Democrats filed a civil contempt resolution.

The closed-door format means Bondi will not face public questioning, though the transcribed interview is expected to last several hours. Committee members plan to examine not only the document release but also related issues, including the handling of Ghislaine Maxwell's case. Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, remains imprisoned on sex-trafficking charges.

Survivors have continued to press for accountability over how their information was managed during the release process. The committee's investigation reflects broader concerns about whether the Trump administration fulfilled its commitment to expose the full scope of Epstein's network and the institutions that enabled it.