Bondi Faces Bipartisan Fire Over Epstein Files in Tense Hearing

Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, facing tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans over the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. The hearing turned heated as lawmakers demanded answers on why millions of documents remain unreleased and why victim identities were not fully protected in the materials that were made public.

Background

Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sex trafficking, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges involving dozens of underage girls. His case has long drawn scrutiny over possible involvement by powerful figures and questions about federal investigations. Last year, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to release related documents within a set time frame.

The Trump administration, with Pam Bondi as attorney general since early 2025, took over the task. Bondi, a former Florida prosecutor, has overseen the release of millions of pages, images, and other materials from Epstein probes. But survivors and lawmakers say the job is not done. They point to missing victim statements, a removed 2019 prosecution memo, and at least 31 instances where child victims' names appeared without redaction in released files.

This hearing marked Bondi's first major appearance before the full Judiciary Committee since taking office. It came after Democrats last month demanded records on other matters, like federal agent shootings in Minnesota and the prosecution of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Republicans, meanwhile, used the session to highlight what they see as successes under Bondi, including crime drops in targeted cities.

The room held Epstein survivors, dressed in white, seated behind Bondi. Their presence added weight to the Democrats' calls for accountability.

Key Details

The hearing started at 10 a.m. with Chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, praising Bondi's leadership. Jordan said the Justice Department under Trump had ended 'lawfare'—politically motivated prosecutions—and returned to core missions. He criticized past policies under Attorney General Merrick Garland and Democratic-led 'sanctuary' cities for releasing migrants instead of handing them to immigration authorities.

Bondi opened by noting lower crime rates in places like Washington, D.C., and Memphis after resource surges. She also complained about 627 lawsuits against the administration, calling it a record level of opposition from 'liberal activist judges.'

Democrats quickly turned to Epstein. Ranking Member Jamie Raskin of Maryland accused Bondi of running a 'cover-up.' He noted Congress had ordered 6 million documents, photos, and videos released, but only 3 million had been turned over. Bondi said the rest were duplicative, though Raskin disputed that, citing unreleased victim memos and the deleted 2019 memo.

Tension peaked with Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat. She asked Bondi to apologize to survivors for what she called a 'massive cover-up.'

"I wish that you would turn around to the survivors who are standing right behind you and on a human level apologize to them for what you have done," she said.

Bondi refused, calling Jayapal 'unprofessional' and her approach 'theatrics.' She shot back that Jayapal had not pressed Garland on similar issues when he testified.

Bondi addressed survivors directly, saying she felt 'deeply sorry' for their suffering. As a career prosecutor, she said she had always fought for victims.

"I'm a career prosecutor, and despite what the ranking member said, I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, and I will continue to do so," she said. "I am deeply sorry for what any victim, any victim, has been through, especially as a result of that monster."

She detailed the effort: over 500 lawyers reviewed materials, leading to millions of pages and 180,000 images released. The department released another 3 million pages in late January, claiming full compliance with the transparency act. Bondi promised investigations into any criminal wrongdoing found in the files.

Bipartisan Pushback Emerges

While most Republicans backed Bondi, Kentucky's Thomas Massie became the first GOP member to challenge her. He sparred over aspects of the department's actions, marking rare cross-party friction. Raskin also referenced Bondi's past Senate testimony, where she brought a binder on Democratic senators, urging her to 'set the burn book aside' and answer questions.

Lawmakers raised other issues. Democrats sought details on the DOJ's decision not to probe immigration agents for civil rights violations in the January 7 fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minnesota, and records on another killing linked to federal agents named Preti.

Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently told judges the department was reviewing files to redact victim information. Survivors have flagged the unredacted names as a major failure.

What This Means

The hearing exposes ongoing divides over the Epstein case, now years after his death. Full transparency could reveal more about Epstein's network, potential conspirators, and past federal handling. Bondi insists the DOJ is committed to accountability, but incomplete releases fuel distrust from victims and Democrats, who see delays as protective of influential names.

For the Trump administration, the session highlights broader battles. Republicans view Bondi's tenure as a reset from Biden-era DOJ, with wins on crime and ending perceived political probes. But bipartisan criticism, even from Massie, signals vulnerabilities. Democrats aim to keep pressure on, potentially through more subpoenas or oversight votes.

Survivors' attendance keeps the human cost front and center. Their push for full, redacted releases tests the DOJ's promises. Bondi faces expectations to deliver the remaining materials soon, while balancing probes into any new leads from the files.

Lawmakers also tied Epstein scrutiny to wider DOJ oversight. Questions on Maduro's prosecution and agent shootings point to immigration and civil rights flashpoints. With lawsuits piling up and crime stats touted as progress, Bondi's testimony shapes views on whether the department prioritizes victims and justice over politics.

The exchange with Jayapal drew wide attention, underscoring raw emotions. Bondi's refusal to apologize directly may rally her base but alienate survivors seeking personal acknowledgment. As reviews continue, any new victim identifications or criminal referrals could shift the story.

This oversight hearing sets the stage for more clashes. With Congress eyeing DOJ budgets and policies, Bondi's responses influence funding fights and confirmation battles ahead.