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Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared for closed-door questioning in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Democratic lawmakers have alleged that Bondi refused to answer questions about Trump's involvement.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, arrives for her deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Friday, May 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)(AP Photo/Rod Lamkey)Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who appeared for her closed-door interview on Friday (local time) in connection with the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files case, refused to answer questions on President Donald Trump's involvement in the release of the files.
Bondi defended the Trump administration’s actions before House lawmakers, who were scrutinising a delayed process that also included the personal information of potential victims.
What happened at Bondi's hearing?
The former attorney general, who arrived at Capitol Hill on Friday morning for her closed-door interview, was defiant in her previous public testimony when she was questioned by lawmakers over the investigation in the Epstein case. In her opening statement, Bondi followed the same track and said that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was the Deputy Attorney General at the time, had overseen the process to release the Epstein case files as mandated by a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump last year.
According to her written statement, "The bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration."
In her opening statement, she told the committee that releasing the Epstein case files was “an enormously complicated and labor-intensive process” and conceded that the department had made redaction errors. But she mostly defended the Justice Department’s work, saying that it had complied with the law and demonstrated “an unprecedented commitment to transparency.”
The recorded Bondi interview allowed lawmakers to seek more information about the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein’s former girlfriend and confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell.
What did Democratic lawmakers allege?
Democratic lawmakers said that the former attorney general stated that she would not speak about Trump in the interview. She cited her ability to decline questions since she voluntarily agreed to appear before the committee, after consulting a lawyer from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Democratic Rep. Dave Min of California said, "It’s a sham in there. They are not answering any questions."
Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia told AP that he questioned Bondi on whether the US President had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes before they became public. Reading from his notes of the exchange, Walkinshaw told reporters that Bondi’s response was, “I’m not certain of the extent of his knowledge.”
Lawmakers question Bondi over Epstein probe
Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy financier who killed himself in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell, a British socialite, was convicted in 2021 of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein but insisted that she is innocent, arguing that she never should have been prosecuted. The Justice Department moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas last August.
Lawmakers are now trying to find out what decisions prosecutors have made about investigating Epstein associates, how the DOJ handled the congressional mandate to release the files, and whether Trump was a part of the process.
Bondi's role in the Epstein saga
The former attorney general has been central to the entire political firestorm over Epstein. She initially raised expectations for the full release of what’s known as the Epstein files, only to later backtrack. That reversal prompted Congress to step in and pass a law requiring the release.
She later faced more backlash when the DOJ delayed releasing the files and then included personal information and nude images of several potential victims. Bondi has insisted in congressional hearings that she was trying to follow the law.
The House Oversight Committee, meanwhile, has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into Epstein that spans multiple presidential administrations.
(With AP inputs)
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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