The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform conducted a transcribed, private interview with former Attorney General Pam Bondi on May 29, 2026 to examine her role in the release of federal files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The session focused on how documents were handled after the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and drew sharp partisan reactions once lawmakers emerged to brief the press.
Democratic members faulted the committee for the format: the interview proceeded without live video and Bondi was not placed under oath. Republicans, led by Chair James Comer, described the meeting as a necessary step in a broader inquiry that has subpoenaed Epstein’s estate and published records the panel obtained.
What happened in the interview
Bondi sat for several hours in a transcribed deposition before committee staff. The committee has already issued a subpoena to the Epstein estate and released documents obtained from that source, and leaders say the interview was part of a continuing effort to map institutional decision-making. Committee Republicans indicated they plan a series of additional sessions with witnesses tied to Epstein, including former assistants and prominent associates.
Ground rules and procedural disputes
Democrats objected to the decision not to record the session on camera and to allow the former attorney general to testify without taking an oath. Ranking member Robert Garcia characterized those ground rules as a disservice to the American people, saying they undercut transparency and public trust in the oversight process.
Substantive points of contention
At the heart of disagreements was responsibility for how the files were released — including criticism that victims’ names were initially exposed. Committee Democrats said Bondi deflected accountability and repeatedly attributed management of the process to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whom President Trump appointed after Bondi left office. Democrats said Bondi declined to answer questions about whether President Donald Trump knew details about how the Department of Justice handled the files.
DOJ presence during questioning
A Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed that DOJ personnel, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, attended the transcribed interview. The department described its role as providing institutional knowledge so the committee could accurately understand how the department implemented the Epstein Files Transparency Act during Bondi’s tenure.
Responses and rebuttals
Bondi took to social media after the session to deny she had tried to shift blame onto Blanche or to avoid questions. In posts on X, she praised Blanche’s handling of the effort and called his ethics beyond reproach, and she disputed a lawmaker’s summary that she had been evasive about President Trump’s connection to Epstein.
Republican leadership on the committee framed Bondi’s appearance as cooperative. Chair Comer highlighted that the committee has interviewed many witnesses and that more depositions are planned, including names that have attracted public attention. He also criticized Democrats for walking out of an earlier meeting in March, saying Republicans continued questioning for hours.
Voices of survivors and advocates
Outside the closed door session, survivors and advocates pushed for fuller accountability. Liz Stein, an Epstein survivor turned human trafficking specialist with the organization World Without Exploitation, warned that the documents hold critical investigative leads: lists of names, travel logs, financial records and other connections that could point to additional wrongdoing or institutional failures. Stein argued that such leads would be actively pursued in most large sex trafficking investigations, but that this matter has not received the same level of follow-up.
Survivor statements underscored a broader call from advocates for clearer answers about why the initial release of documents revealed victims’ identities and how agency practices might change to prevent future harm.
What comes next
The Oversight Committee has said it will continue interviews throughout the summer, with more witnesses on the schedule. Committee Democrats signaled plans to request that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testify before the panel to clarify his role. Republicans indicated additional depositions will add context to the document releases and agency actions spanning multiple administrations.
As the inquiry proceeds, lawmakers and advocates continue to press for transparency around the handling of the Epstein files and for steps to protect survivors while preserving the integrity of investigations. The debate over procedure and accountability is likely to remain a central theme as the committee compiles its record.
