Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi gave closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, May 24, 2026 [1].
The hearing focused on the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. The proceedings are significant as they examine whether political influence affected which documents were released to the public and which remained redacted.
Bondi spoke for roughly four hours during the session [2]. She defended the Justice Department's release of the files, though she acknowledged some shortcomings in the process. "There were redaction errors, but otherwise the release was appropriate," Bondi said [3].
During the testimony, Bondi shifted the responsibility for the selection of released documents to another official. She said Todd Blanche, the Acting Attorney General, was responsible for determining which documents would be released [4].
Lawmakers questioned Bondi regarding the potential involvement of former President Donald Trump in the process. Bondi refused to provide answers on that specific topic. "I’m not going to answer questions about Mr. Trump’s role in the Epstein files," Bondi said [5].
This appearance follows a period of transition for Bondi, who was fired as Florida Attorney General in April 2026 [6]. The House Oversight Committee sought to clarify the timeline of the file releases, and the internal decision-making process at the Justice Department.
Reports on the session vary regarding Bondi's demeanor. Some accounts describe her as defending the department's actions, while others suggest she stonewalled lawmakers and offered no defense for the rollout [3, 5].
“"Todd Blanche was responsible for determining which documents would be released."”
The testimony highlights a tension between congressional oversight and executive branch secrecy. By attributing the document selection to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and refusing to discuss former President Trump, Bondi has created a firewall that protects the highest levels of political leadership from direct accountability regarding the Epstein files.
