Former Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files during a House oversight committee hearing on Friday, admitting to 'redaction errors' but insisting the department showed 'unprecedented commitment to transparency'. Bondi told lawmakers she delegated oversight of the process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, now acting attorney general, rather than leading every aspect herself.
Bondi's appearance came after the Justice Department missed a December deadline to release files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, eventually releasing what it claimed were full files on 31 January. Committee Chairman James Comer questioned why some documents remained withheld. Democrats criticized the decision not to videotape the interview, with Representative Robert Garcia stating Bondi refused to answer questions about President Trump's involvement.
Garcia said Bondi attributed mistakes to Todd Blanche and declined to answer five separate questions about conversations with Trump regarding the files. Bondi later disputed Garcia's characterization on social media, saying she praised Blanche's management and did not shift blame. Survivors of Epstein's abuse have expressed frustration over the handling of the case.
