politics
Pam Bondi testifies behind closed doors in House committee's Epstein probe
Updated on: May 29, 2026 / 2:05 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Former Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Oversight Committee about her handling of the Epstein files.
- Bondi acknowledged "redaction errors" in the released files but defended her department's commitment to transparency.
- She described the effort to release approximately 3 million files as "enormously complicated and labor-intensive."
- Committee Democrats criticized the closed-door interview format and Bondi's refusal to answer questions about President Trump.
- DOJ counsel accompanied Bondi to assist the committee in understanding the Department's role in implementing the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- The committee chairman, James Comer, stated the focus would be on what documents remain and why they haven't been turned over.
- Bondi had previously pledged to release files related to Epstein but later clarified her statements.
- The Justice Department did not meet the 30-day deadline to release records as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- About 3 million pages of documents were published, but this is only half of the files held by the Justice Department.
- Bondi was fired in April and her testimony was rescheduled after her removal as attorney general.
- Bondi revealed she is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer.