Pam Bondi refused to say whether Trump influenced release of Epstein files

Bondi testifies in Epstein probe, defends DOJ's handling of files

The Washington Examiner's Kaelan Deese joins LiveNOW's Alexandra Goldberg to recap former Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony on Capitol Hill Friday as she defended the Justice Department's handling of files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions Friday on whether President Donald Trump had any influence in the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files.

Bondi, who was fired by Trump in April in part over her handling of the Epstein files, spent four hours being questioned by lawmakers behind closed doors. Here’s what she said:

Bondi defends DOJ

Big picture view:

Lawmakers hoped Bondi’s testimony would shine more light on the political firestorm sparked by Epstein’s case, but Democrats left disappointed and said Bondi refused to speak about the president. She said she didn’t have to answer questions about Trump because she appeared before the committee voluntarily.

FILE: Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

What they're saying:

In her opening statement, Bondi defended the Department of Justice’s handling of the case files. She said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, now the acting attorney general, had overseen their release.

"The bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration," she said, according to her opening statement obtained by The Associated Press.

The other side:

Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat, said he asked Bondi whether Trump had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes before they became public. He said Bondi’s response was, "I’m not certain of the extent of his knowledge."

"It’s a sham in there," Rep. Dave Min, D-California, said during a break in the interview, AP reported. "They are not answering any questions."

Trump’s Epstein ties

The backstory:

Epstein, a wealthy financier, was known for socializing with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and the academic elite, including Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Epstein was first accused of sexually abusing underage girls in 2005, but he made a secret deal with the U.S. attorney in Florida to avoid federal charges, enabling him to plead guilty in 2008 to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program.

In 2019, Manhattan federal prosecutors revived the case and charged Epstein with sex trafficking, alleging he sexually abused dozens of girls. He killed himself in jail a month after his arrest.

Jeffrey Epstein's alleged suicide note released

A note that may have been written by the late Jeffrey Epstein was unsealed by a federal judge. The note appears to read in part: "It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye."

Epstein’s longtime friend and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping recruit some of his underage victims.

Trump campaigned on a promise to release all the Epstein files, but his administration backtracked and struggled to contain the fallout of the president’s close ties to Epstein. The files were eventually released after Congress passed a law compelling the Justice Department to make them public. According to The New York Times, the Epstein case files include more than 38,000 references to Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Mar-a-Lago, and other related terms.

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Among those files is a series of FBI interviews with a woman who claims Trump sexually and physically assaulted her when she was between 13 and 15 years old.

Epstein survivors tried to confront Bondi

How Epstein files coverage impacts trauma survivors

LiveNOW’s Shawna Khalafi is speaking with child abuse expert and survivor, Jodee Neil, as we learn more about how the public release of the Jeffrey Epstein files can impact trauma survivors.

Several survivors of Epstein’s abuse gathered outside the Capitol office Friday where Bondi was being questioned. They tried to make their presence known to Bondi as she entered the room, but several said they were shoved aside by police officers.

The Source: This article includes information from The Associated Press, The New York Times and previous FOX Local reporting.

Donald J. Trump Politics