A contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents erupted into a sharp exchange Wednesday between Attorney General Pam Bondi and Rep. Becca Balint, underscoring widening partisan divisions over transparency and accountability.
The hearing centered on the Justice Department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation intended to compel the release of millions of pages of investigatory material tied to Epstein and his network. Lawmakers pressed Bondi on the pace of disclosures, the scope of redactions and whether senior Trump administration officials whose names appear in the files had been questioned.
Balint directly asked whether the Department of Justice had investigated members of President Donald Trump's administration whose names reportedly appear in the documents. Bondi did not provide a direct answer and instead referenced prior testimony from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick concerning his own interactions.
As Balint continued to press for clarity, Bondi responded, "Shame on you," drawing audible reactions in the chamber. Balint replied that her questions were serious and that the public deserved answers regarding potential connections between Epstein and high-ranking officials.
The exchange escalated further when Bondi referenced what she described as an "anti-Semitic culture" and cited a resolution she said Balint had opposed. Democrats on the committee accused Bondi of shielding politically sensitive material, alleging selective redactions and delayed releases. The hearing at times devolved into pointed cross-talk, reflecting broader mistrust between the parties.
The controversy extends beyond procedural disputes. According to statements by Rep. Jamie Raskin, searches of unredacted portions of the files returned more than a million instances of Trump's name. Supporters of the president have countered that the appearance of a name in investigatory material does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing.
The files include flight logs, correspondence and contact lists compiled during investigations of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Officials involved in reviewing the documents have emphasized that references often reflect social or incidental connections rather than formal allegations.
Historically, Trump and Epstein were known to have interacted socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump reportedly described Epstein as a "terrific guy" during an interview in the early 2000s. Flight manifests show Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet several times during that period. In a White House briefing in May, Bondi reportedly informed Trump that his name appeared in the files alongside numerous other public figures, though law enforcement officials have not indicated evidence warranting additional action.
