Bondi grilled over Epstein files as lawmakers clash on redactions and victim privacy

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee erupted into sharp exchanges this week as lawmakers from both parties pressed the Justice Department over its handling of materials tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — and over allegations that survivors’ identities were exposed while other names were redacted.

Bondi testified at a Judiciary oversight hearing Wednesday as members questioned how the Justice Department has handled releases and access to Epstein-related files. PBS NewsHour, which carried the hearing, reported that lawmakers planned to focus heavily on the department’s management of the Epstein materials.

The hearing’s temperature rose as Democrats accused DOJ leadership of mishandling sensitive information and Republicans joined calls for more transparency and accountability, according to accounts of the session and post-hearing reporting.

One flashpoint involved claims that the department released identifying information about survivors while withholding other details, fueling an outcry from victim advocates and lawmakers who said privacy protections should be paramount. The dispute played out publicly as members demanded explanations for the department’s redaction choices and decision-making process.

Another controversy emerged around allegations that members of Congress were monitored as they reviewed unredacted Epstein-related documents. CBS News reported that Rep. Pramila Jayapal said Bondi appeared during the hearing with what looked like a list of Jayapal’s searches, prompting accusations of “spying” and raising new questions about oversight protocols. Axios separately reported that a group of House Democrats sent Bondi a letter demanding the department stop what they described as tracking lawmakers’ activity while they review the files.

Bondi and the Justice Department have pushed back on characterizations that federal officials are running an improper monitoring operation, while Republicans and Democrats have continued to argue over how to balance transparency with privacy and due-process concerns.

The Epstein issue has become a rare point of cross-pressured politics, with some conservatives criticizing Bondi from the right and Democrats portraying the controversy as evidence of institutional damage control. Axios reported that far-right figures renewed demands for answers after the hearing, adding to the political heat surrounding the department’s response.

The committee hearing came amid renewed attention on what additional investigative steps, if any, the department plans to take related to Epstein’s network, as well as how it will handle future disclosures of sensitive materials. PBS NewsHour’s recap of the hearing highlighted multiple moments in which lawmakers sought direct answers from Bondi on the department’s approach and timelines.