Bondi Under Pressure in Epstein Hearing

US Attorney General Pam Bondi told lawmakers that the Justice Department is pursuing ongoing investigations connected to associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as a contentious congressional hearing intensified scrutiny over file disclosures and victim access to justice.

Bondi: Investigations Are Active

Testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, Bondi said there are “pending investigations” within the department related to Epstein-linked individuals. She urged victims with credible information to come forward, saying federal investigators are prepared to act.

Referring to Epstein as “that monster,” Bondi said his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell—currently serving a prison sentence—“will hopefully die in prison,” underscoring the department’s hardline stance on the case.

Bondi also rejected claims that President Donald Trump was implicated, stating there is “no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime,” while pledging to review any new material submitted to investigators.

File Disclosures Spark Partisan Clash

The hearing became increasingly tense as Democratic lawmakers accused the Justice Department of mishandling the release of Epstein-related files, citing redaction errors that revealed victims’ identities.

Bondi defended the process, saying officials acted under strict deadlines and “did the best we could.” She argued that Trump’s approval of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last November reflected a commitment to openness.

Republicans, meanwhile, focused criticism on what they described as procedural shortcomings rather than political interference.

Survivors Voice Frustration

During the hearing, Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked Epstein survivors present in the room to stand if they had not been able to meet with the Justice Department under Bondi’s leadership. All reportedly stood.

Bondi declined to apologize, instead pushing back sharply against critics and accusing lawmakers of politicizing the issue.

Broader Accusations and Heated Exchanges

The hearing also featured unrelated but heated accusations over prior Justice Department actions. Rep. Steve Cohen accused the department of failing to investigate deaths linked to immigration enforcement, a charge Bondi forcefully rejected.

“You all should be apologizing,” Bondi told lawmakers. “You sit here and attack the President, and I am not going to put up with it.”

The Epstein Case Background

The Justice Department recently released more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of videos and images, under the transparency law. Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Epstein had previously pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution, a deal widely criticized as overly lenient. Victims allege he ran an extensive trafficking network involving powerful and wealthy figures—claims that continue to fuel public and congressional pressure for accountability.