Former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions regarding President Donald Trump's alleged involvement in the Justice Department's release of files pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi invoked privilege during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on May 29, 2026. The transcript of her testimony was released by the committee on Thursday.

Bondi's testimony comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department's handling and release of the Epstein-related documents. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed in November, mandated the public disclosure of these files, sparking widespread interest and investigation into the individuals named within them.

During the interview, Bondi stated she would not discuss "any conversations that I had or did not have with the president of the United States." She acknowledged that Trump had ordered an investigation into prominent Democrats, but would not confirm or deny reports that she had informed Trump about his name appearing in the files prior to their public release. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who accompanied Bondi, also deflected similar questions, stating "You're not going to get answers on those issues."

The implications of Bondi's refusal to answer could deepen the inquiry into the executive branch's potential influence over the DOJ's transparency efforts. Lawmakers are seeking to understand the extent of any political interference in the process of releasing sensitive information.

Bondi generally defended the Justice Department's overall handling of the Epstein files, expressing pride in the department's commitment to transparency. However, she sought to distance herself from the day-to-day management of the file release. According to the transcript, Bondi stated that then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was responsible for overseeing the Epstein matter and the release of the files from its inception.

Following Bondi's departure as attorney general, Trump appointed Blanche as the acting head of the DOJ, with plans to nominate him for the position permanently. Bondi testified that Blanche managed the recruitment of attorneys involved in reviewing the files for redaction and approved the redaction process. She also stated she had no role in the drafting or release of a joint FBI-DOJ memo from July that indicated no "client list" was found in the reviewed files, and that the DOJ deemed further disclosure inappropriate.

"I did not have a role in issuing this statement," Bondi said, attributing the memo to Deputy Attorney General Blanche in conjunction with the FBI. This statement came after Representative Robert Garcia suggested to reporters that Bondi was attempting to shift blame for the controversial handling of the Epstein files onto Blanche. Bondi subsequently defended Blanche, stating he performed an "excellent job" managing the release.

Questions remain about the extent of Trump's knowledge and potential directives regarding the Epstein files and the DOJ's subsequent actions. Bondi's invocation of privilege leaves significant aspects of her interactions and knowledge unaddressed, potentially prompting further investigative steps from the House Oversight Committee.