Pam Bondi appeared before a closed-door House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on May 29, 2026, to testify about the Department of Justice’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Bondi defended the DOJ’s efforts, saying nearly 3 million pages of material—including thousands of videos and hundreds of thousands of images—were released as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act [2, 3, 4, 6]. “We demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to transparency in the Department’s search for, collection, and review of the Epstein files, producing nearly 3 million pages of material,” Bondi said [6].
Bondi acknowledged there were “redaction errors” in the disclosed documents but stated the department remained committed to accountability and transparency throughout the process [2, 3, 4]. She asserted any withheld materials were either nonresponsive, privileged, or duplicative after professional review [3, 4]. Bondi also said she did not personally oversee every aspect of the document review, but delegated that responsibility to then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche [2, 4, 6].
The DOJ’s release came after a legal deadline of December 19, 2025, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act to publish all Epstein-related materials. The department publicly released the documents on January 31, 2026 [1, 3]. Bondi was fired from her role as Attorney General in early April 2026 by President Donald Trump, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with her handling of Epstein issues [2, 5, 6]. Todd Blanche was appointed acting attorney general following her departure [2, 6].
Democrats and some survivors criticized the DOJ for excessive redactions and alleged the department failed to fully comply with the law, including withholding significant documents [1, 3, 4, 5]. “Pam Bondi was at the heart of a White House cover-up and Oversight Chairman James Comer is working to hide her testimony from the American people,” said Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for House Democrats [2]. Rep. Yassamin Ansari added, “I think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to. Now it’s a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent” [1]. Rep. Melanie Stansbury demanded Bondi testify publicly and under oath: “We demand transparency and accountability for Bondi and Blanche” [5].
Bondi's May 29 testimony was a closed-door interview that was transcribed but not videotaped, a format criticized by Democrats and victims' advocates who called for open, on-camera testimony [1, 2, 4, 5, 6].
The House Oversight Committee is continuing its investigation into the DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and has yet to schedule public hearings with Bondi or other officials.
