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Pam Bondi Acknowledges Epstein Files Redaction Errors In House Oversight Testimony
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged "redaction errors" in the Justice Department's released Epstein files during a voluntary, closed-door, transcribed House Oversight Committee interview at Capitol Hill on Friday, May 29, 2026.[1]
She defended the department's overall handling of the files while conceding mistakes in how some redactions were applied.[1] The session was voluntary, not held under oath, and it was transcribed; a transcript could be released later and Bondi remains criminally liable for false statements to Congress.[2]
President Trump fired Bondi on April 2, 2026.[3] After her ouster, DOJ told the committee she was not obligated to appear because she had been subpoenaed in her official capacity, prompting Democrats to introduce a civil contempt resolution in late April.[4]
Early coverage focused on whether Bondi would appear, who would attend and whether testimony would be sworn or videotaped.[4] Later reporting added that she acknowledged redaction errors during the session, shifting attention onto the integrity of the Justice Department's file-release practices.[1]
The interview's scope included DOJ decisions on investigating Epstein associates, the congressionally mandated file release, and Ghislaine Maxwell's prison placement and transfer.[5] Bondi was accompanied by Justice Department officials including Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon, who acted as her counsel; Democrats called that a conflict, and DOJ said officials were there to explain release procedures.[5] Since leaving DOJ, Bondi disclosed she is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer and has had surgery.[3]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, May 29, 2026, Pam Bondi returned to Capitol Hill for a voluntary, closed‑door transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee focused on the Epstein files.
- The session was voluntary, will not be videotaped and was not held under oath; a transcript could be released later and Bondi remains criminally liable for making false statements to Congress.
- During the interview Bondi acknowledged redaction errors in the released Epstein files and defended the Justice Department's overall handling while conceding mistakes in how some redactions were applied.
- The appearance followed Bondi's removal from office after President Trump fired her on April 2, 2026; DOJ had earlier told the committee she need not testify because she had been subpoenaed in her official capacity and was no longer obligated to appear.
- House Oversight Committee Democrats introduced a civil contempt resolution against Bondi in late April 2026 and had earlier walked out of a mid‑March closed‑door briefing, prompting Republicans to announce a new appearance date.
- Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act after a July 2025 DOJ memo said there was no Epstein 'client list'; DOJ missed the law's 30‑day disclosure deadline, ultimately releasing about 3 million pages (roughly half its files) and withholding the rest citing survivor privacy and ongoing investigations.
- The interview's scope included DOJ decisions on investigating Epstein associates, handling the congressionally mandated file release, and the prison placement of Ghislaine Maxwell, including her August 2025 transfer from a Florida federal prison to a Texas prison camp.
- Bondi was accompanied by Justice Department officials including Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon, who acted as her counsel during the interview — a move Democrats called a conflict of interest while DOJ said officials were there to explain file‑release processes.
- Since leaving DOJ, Bondi disclosed she is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer and has had surgery.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
May 29, 2026
9:58 PM
Bondi acknowledges Epstein files "redaction errors" in testimony to House Oversight Committee
New information:
- On Friday, May 29, 2026, former Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged 'redaction errors' in the Epstein files during her testimony to the House Oversight Committee.
- Bondi used her appearance on Capitol Hill to defend the Justice Department's overall handling of the Epstein files while conceding there were mistakes in how some redactions were applied.
- CBS characterizes the session as focused in part on questions about those redaction issues, adding detail to prior coverage that centered mainly on whether Bondi would appear and under what format.
12:53 PM
Pam Bondi will face a closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over the Epstein files
New information:
- Pam Bondi is testifying behind closed doors before House lawmakers on Friday, May 29, 2026, in a transcribed session focused on the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files and related matters.
- The interview's scope includes DOJ decisions on investigating Epstein associates, handling the congressionally mandated release of Epstein case files, and the prison placement of Ghislaine Maxwell, including her August 2025 transfer from a Florida federal prison to a Texas prison camp.
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Bondi "absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to" and questioned whether Bondi will be transparent.
- Bondi will be accompanied by Justice Department officials including Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon, who will act as her counsel during the interview; Democrats argue this represents a conflict of interest, while DOJ says the officials are there to explain file-release processes.
- The article reiterates that Bondi was ousted as attorney general in early April 2026 but has remained close to President Trump, who this week appointed her to a White House panel on artificial intelligence.
- The story underscores that Bondi initially raised expectations for full release of the Epstein files, then reversed course in a way that spurred Congress to pass a law mandating disclosure, and notes prior backlash over delays and inclusion of personal information about potential victims in the eventual release.
10:00 AM
Bondi grilled on Epstein files in first Capitol Hill return since DOJ ouster
New information:
- On Friday, May 29, 2026, Pam Bondi is returning to Capitol Hill for the first time since being fired as attorney general to take part in a voluntary, closed-door transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee about the Epstein files.
- The interview will not be under oath but will be transcribed, and Bondi remains criminally liable for making false statements to Congress; a transcript could be released later.
- Bondi agreed to the interview after Democrats and some Republicans on the committee threatened to seek civil contempt if she did not comply with a subpoena, following the Trump administration's earlier position that she need not testify because she no longer held office.
- The session is being held during Congress' Memorial Day recess and it is unclear how many members will attend; several Democrats, including Rep. Melanie Stansbury, are publicly objecting to the closed-door, off-camera format and demanding sworn, on-camera testimony.
- Ranking Member Robert Garcia publicly stated on social media that "Pam Bondi will finally have to answer our questions tomorrow about the Epstein files" and said "it’s time for the truth."
- The article reiterates that Bondi previously told Fox News early in her DOJ tenure that the Epstein files were 'sitting on my desk right now for review,' a statement she later appeared to backtrack on, and notes ongoing criticism over delays and redaction practices in releasing more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents after enactment of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- Bondi will be accompanied by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who has been serving as her counsel since her ouster, and DOJ says its role at the interview is to ensure accurate representation of the department's actions.
10:00 AM
Bondi to testify behind closed doors in House Epstein probe today
New information:
- The article confirms Pam Bondi is scheduled for a closed-door, transcribed House Oversight Committee interview on Friday, May 29, 2026, focused on her handling of the Justice Department’s Epstein probe and document releases.
- It details that in July 2025 the Justice Department issued a memo concluding there was no Epstein 'client list' and that no further disclosure was appropriate or warranted, which helped spur the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- The transparency law required DOJ to release Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell investigation records within 30 days, a deadline DOJ missed; about 3 million pages were ultimately released, representing only about half of DOJ’s total files, with the rest withheld citing survivor privacy and ongoing investigations.
- The article reports that President Trump fired Bondi in April 2026, publicly calling her a 'great American patriot' despite reported private frustration over her performance on the Epstein files.
- CBS reports that Bondi recently disclosed she is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer and has had surgery since leaving DOJ.
- The story notes that prior committee depositions included Bill and Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Les Wexner, and Epstein lawyer and accountant Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, all of whom denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
10:00 AM
Pam Bondi to testify before House Oversight Committee about Epstein files
New information:
- The article confirms Pam Bondi is scheduled to give a closed-door, transcribed interview before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, May 29, 2026, after an earlier April 14 session was canceled when President Trump fired her on April 2.
- It reports that after Bondi's firing, DOJ told the committee she would not testify because she had been subpoenaed in her official capacity as attorney general and was no longer obligated to appear.
- House Oversight Committee Democrats introduced a civil contempt resolution against Bondi in late April 2026, prompting Republicans to announce a new appearance date less than an hour later.
- Democrats say Bondi's May 29 session will be a 'voluntary transcribed interview' that will not be videotaped, and they publicly criticize Chair James Comer for declining to record video, accusing him of trying to hide her testimony.
- The article recounts that Democrats walked out of a mid-March 2026 closed-door briefing with Bondi over concerns she was using it to avoid testifying under oath at the then-planned April 14 deposition.