Pam Bondi defends Epstein files release after 3M docs reviewed in 30 days: 'Under 1% error rate'

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files release after a tense closed-door briefing with lawmakers, as scrutiny over transparency and compliance intensified.

The briefing, held with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, ended in controversy after several Democrats walked out, escalating an already charged political standoff.

Pam Bondi defends rapid review of Epstein files

Bondi said the department reviewed 3 million documents in just 30 days, describing the volume as comparable to a stack reaching the height of the Eiffel Tower. She noted that roughly 500 attorneys worked across four administrations to process the material, adding that the effort resulted in “less than a 1 percent error rate.”

The attorney general defended the rollout under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, acknowledging limited errors while emphasizing that safeguarding victims remained a priority throughout the process.

Bondi said the department undertook an extensive review of millions of records tied to the long-running investigation, stressing that the effort aimed to balance public disclosure with the protection of victims.

Democrats walk out of Epstein files briefing

Tensions escalated during the closed-door session, with several Democratic lawmakers exiting the briefing midway. Bondi criticized their actions, saying, “We came at their convenience. We gave them, really, as much time as they wanted."

She added, “One congresswoman screamed C-SPAN wasn’t in there, so she didn’t want to ask questions. Yet, all day long, they’ve been on social media saying they had all these questions.” "They stormed out of the meeting."

DOJ defends transparency in Epstein files release

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a subpoena for Bondi to appear for a deposition on April 14, seeking sworn testimony about the Epstein case and the Justice Department’s actions. Lawmakers have alleged that too many records were withheld and criticized redactions that exposed sensitive details about victims.

The department called the subpoena “completely unnecessary,” noting that lawmakers were invited to review unredacted files and that officials have remained available to answer questions.

The Justice Department said there was no effort to shield Trump or other high-profile figures connected to Epstein, noting that the president has stated he cut ties with the financier years ago. Officials also rejected claims that victims were ignored, maintaining that while current files do not support additional prosecutions, investigations would continue if new evidence emerges.

“I’m not trying to defend Epstein, I’m not,” Todd Blanche said. “I do defend the work that this department is doing today, right now, which is going after every single perpetrator anyway, and if there is a narrative that exists that we are ignoring Epstein victims, that is false.”

The documents were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed after sustained public and political pressure to open records related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.