Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday to address the Department of Justice’s management of the highly publicized Jeffrey Epstein files. In her opening statement, Bondi maintained that the department fulfilled its obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, asserting that all required documents and evidence were released to the public. While she touted the production of nearly 3 million pages of material, including extensive video and photographic evidence, she acknowledged that the process was not without flaws, specifically citing “redaction errors” that occurred during the review.

During the proceedings, Bondi clarified her role in the document release, noting that she delegated the direct oversight of the project to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. She emphasized that she did not personally conduct the document review for every aspect of the massive collection. Bondi, who was dismissed from her position by President Donald Trump in early April, defended the administration’s commitment to transparency, stating that the release was conducted under the direct guidance of the President.

The hearing was marked by significant political tension, as Democratic members of the committee voiced strong objections to the Republican majority’s decision not to record the interview on video. Critics argued that the lack of transparency regarding the testimony itself undermines the public’s right to accountability, particularly concerning the handling of sensitive materials related to Epstein. Reports from inside the hearing room suggested that the session was contentious, with Bondi reportedly showing frustration when questioned about her relationship with the President and the circumstances surrounding her departure from the Department of Justice.