Quick Read
- Attorney General Pam Bondi faced severe criticism from Jeffrey Epstein accusers and lawmakers during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Feb 11, 2026.
- Accusers Jess Michaels, Liz Stein, and Teresa Helm condemned Bondi’s refusal to acknowledge them and the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein files.
- Bondi denied accusations of a “cover-up” but drew ire for mentioning stock market figures instead of directly addressing questions about co-conspirator indictments.
- The Justice Department claims to have released all files required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, citing privacy and ongoing investigations for redactions.
- Lawmakers, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, demand further transparency, calling for internal memos and accusing the DoJ of “muddying the waters.”
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing intense criticism from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking and several lawmakers following her recent congressional testimony and the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files. The controversy intensified this week after accusers publicly condemned Bondi’s conduct during a House Judiciary Committee hearing and her department’s assertion that all required documents have been released, despite ongoing allegations of insufficient transparency and a lack of accountability for potential co-conspirators.
During her combative appearance before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Attorney General Bondi defended the Justice Department’s actions regarding the Epstein investigation and the release of millions of related documents. However, her testimony drew severe criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as from a group of accusers seated directly behind her. Jess Michaels, Liz Stein, and Teresa Helm, who identify as survivors of Epstein’s alleged abuse, later told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, February 15, that Bondi had “turned her back on survivors everywhere.”
The Congressional Showdown and Survivor Outcry
A key point of contention during the hearing was Bondi’s refusal to turn around and acknowledge the group of nearly a dozen Epstein survivors when asked by a member of Congress. Liz Stein expressed her dismay on CNN, stating, “For us to be in that room with Pam Bondi last week, and for her to not even be able to turn around and look at us like human beings − we’re just seeing this bad behavior of our administration over and over and over again, in plain sight.”
Lawmakers, including Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, accused the department of a potential “cover-up,” a charge Bondi vehemently denied. She maintained that investigations into possible co-conspirators are ongoing, reiterating her commitment to fighting for victims. “I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, and I will continue to do so,” Bondi stated during the hearing. “I am deeply sorry for what any victim has been through, especially as a result of that monster.”
However, one particularly heated exchange involved Bondi’s response to a question about indictments of Epstein’s accomplices. Instead of directly addressing the lack of indictments beyond Ghislaine Maxwell, Bondi pivoted to discussing the rising stock market and falling crime rates under President Donald Trump. Jess Michaels reacted to this on CNN, linking it to a long-standing issue: “I think it comes down to the same common denominator that has happened since 1996… that this comes down to money, that people are willing to protect pedophiles if the price is right.”
Justice Department’s Stance on File Release
Earlier this month, the Justice Department began releasing millions of records related to Jeffrey Epstein. Following the congressional hearing, Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a letter to members of Congress on Saturday, asserting that all files required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act had been released. They stated that no records were withheld “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity,” according to BBC News.
The department cited reasons for redactions in some of the three million pages, including personal medical files, graphic depictions of child abuse, or material that could jeopardize ongoing investigations. The letter also contained a list of names appearing in the files, clarifying that individuals like Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Bill Clinton were mentioned in a “wide variety of contexts,” with no suggestion that their appearance implied wrongdoing.
Lawmakers Demand Further Transparency
Despite the Justice Department’s assertion, lawmakers and accusers remain unconvinced. Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, called for the DoJ to release internal memos outlining past decisions on whether to charge Epstein and his associates. Massie argued that the current release does not comply with the spirit of the law, which mandates the disclosure of internal deliberations.
California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who also co-wrote the Act, accused the Justice Department of “purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email.” Khanna urged the department to “Release the full files. Stop protecting predators. Redact only the survivor’s names.” USA Today reported that two House members leading the effort to force the file release alleged they discovered at least six more suspected accomplices whose names remain redacted without explanation in publicly released materials.
Survivors have also raised concerns about the release of some victim names and identifying information, while the names of potential co-conspirators were redacted. Liz Stein emphasized that the issue transcends politics: “This isn’t about politics. This is about a crime… We’re victims of the crime of sex trafficking, and I don’t think that anyone in our country, if this was happening in their community, could stand by and watch it.”
Broader Context of the Epstein Scandal
Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. The Department of Justice estimates Epstein victimized over 1,000 women and children. The scandal’s reverberations have extended globally, impacting European royal families and governments due to high-profile individuals maintaining relationships with Epstein even after his 2008 conviction on state prostitution charges.
The ongoing dispute over the Epstein files highlights a persistent tension between government transparency and victim protection, with critics arguing that the Justice Department’s current approach risks re-traumatizing survivors and shielding powerful individuals from scrutiny.