Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted to "redaction errors" in the Jeffrey Epstein files but stonewalled specific questions about President Donald Trump's involvement during a tense, four-hour closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers exiting the Capitol Hill session described her testimony as uncooperative and highly shielded.

 

Lawmaker details Bondi's Epstein files closed-door interview

Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted to "redaction errors" in the Jeffrey Epstein files but stonewalled specific questions about President Donald Trump's involvement during a tense, four-hour closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers exiting the Capitol Hill session described her testimony as uncooperative and highly shielded.

 

Summary of the Interview

The May 29, 2026, session was a transcribed interview rather than a sworn, recorded deposition. This structure allowed Bondi to bypass various direct answers without facing video publicization. She arrived with a bandage on her throat while recovering from thyroid cancer surgery. While she defended her overarching "commitment to transparency", lawmakers revealed several key points from behind closed doors.

What Bondi Told Lawmakers

• Redaction Errors: She formally acknowledged mistakes in the document release, confirming that some victim names and private images were failed to be properly obscured.
• Deflecting Accountability: Bondi repeatedly stated that she "did not lead every aspect" of the review. She asserted that she delegated the operation to her former deputy (and current acting AG) Todd Blanche.
• Unreleased Documents: Bondi confirmed that approximately 3 million files tied to the Epstein investigations remain hidden from the public because they relate to the DOJ's internal decisions to prosecute.
• Stance on Ghislaine Maxwell: According to sources inside the room, Bondi explicitly called Ghislaine Maxwell "evil". She stated that Maxwell should die in prison and should not receive a presidential pardon.

Stonewalling and Criticism

• Refusal to Discuss Trump: Bondi explicitly refused to answer any questions regarding Donald Trump’s involvement, his directives, or his knowledge of the file selections. [1, 2]
• DOJ Coaching: Democratic Ranking Member Robert Garcia and other lawmakers slammed the presence of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, stating she repeatedly blocked Bondi from answering by physically placing her hand over the microphone.
• Frustrated Reactions: Lawmakers like Rep. Maxwell Frost described the testimony as a "cover-up in broad daylight". He noted that almost every critical question was met with either "I don't recall" or a redirection to Todd Blanche. Outside the room, Epstein survivors who gathered to watch called the closed-door proceedings a disservice to the public.

The Republican-led committee plans to release the written transcript to the public at a later date following a standard Justice Department review