U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is poised to face pointed questions from lawmakers Wednesday in a high-stakes hearing centered on the Justice Department’s handling of newly released records tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The session, scheduled for 10 a.m. EST before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, is expected to spotlight simmering bipartisan frustration over how the department managed its latest document release — and what was left blacked out.
The hearing can be streamed live via USA TODAY’s YouTube channel.
Bipartisan Scrutiny Over Redactions
At the heart of the Pam Bondi questioning on Epstein files is the Justice Department’s release of roughly 3 million pages connected to Epstein and his alleged sex trafficking network. While the volume was vast, lawmakers from both parties argue the transparency was partial at best.
Members of Congress have raised alarms that extensive redactions appear to exceed the narrow exemptions permitted under a law passed nearly unanimously in November mandating full disclosure of the documents. Critics also point to the department’s refusal to publish significant portions of material, citing legal privileges.
For some lawmakers, the issue is not just what was released — but what remains hidden.
The Justice Department has defended its approach, saying the redactions were necessary to protect victims of Epstein’s crimes. Yet some victims’ names surfaced in the release, fueling further questions about consistency and oversight.
With limited legislative avenues available in the Epstein matter, Wednesday’s hearing represents one of the few opportunities for lawmakers to publicly press for clarity.
