Former Attorney General Pam Bondi participated in a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on May 29, 2026, regarding the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. During the interview, Bondi did not address questions about President Donald Trump’s connection to Epstein, instead attributing the management of the Epstein files' release to her successor, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Robert Garcia (D-California), reported that Bondi emphasized Blanche's role in overseeing the investigation. Following her comments, the committee may seek to have Blanche testify. Garcia indicated that Democrats are prepared to issue a subpoena if necessary.
Garcia criticized Bondi for deflecting responsibility for issues such as redactions and survivor protections onto Blanche. Bondi was appointed as attorney general by Trump but was removed from the Justice Department last month. She faced criticism during her tenure for her handling of the Epstein files.
A source noted that Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant attorney general at the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, was present during Bondi’s interview. The interview was not conducted under oath and was not made public, leading Democrats to call for the release of a video recording of the session. Garcia stated that the lack of a recorded interview is a disservice to the public.
