Pam Bondi hearing today: Epstein files dominate a combative House showdown

Attorney General Pam Bondi faced a high-voltage Capitol Hill hearing on February 11, 2026, as lawmakers from both parties pressed her on the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The session quickly turned into a public clash, with sharp exchanges over redactions, victim privacy, and what Congress should see next.

The five-hour oversight hearing turned “bondi hearing” into a top political flashpoint in Washington news today, with Democrats accusing the department of shielding powerful names while survivors described renewed harm from disclosures.

What happened in the Pam Bondi hearing

The hearing, formally an oversight review of the Department of Justice, opened at 10:00 a.m. ET on February 11. But the conversation repeatedly returned to the Epstein investigation materials and the government’s release process.

Democrats including Jamie Raskin and Pramila Jayapal accused the department of mishandling sensitive material and failing to show accountability to victims present in the room. Bondi rejected demands that she personally apologize, framing the moment as political theater rather than oversight.

Redactions, privacy, and the Jeffrey Epstein files

A central dispute was how names and identifying details were treated in public releases. Lawmakers argued that the department’s approach risked exposing survivors while obscuring names of people of interest. Bondi defended the department’s efforts and pointed to ongoing work and constraints, while critics said those explanations did not address the harm already done.

Ted Lieu highlighted a specific example involving a photograph and identification issues tied to trafficking victims, underscoring the broader argument that the files contain evidence that should trigger further investigative steps beyond document publication.

Flashpoints with Raskin, Jayapal, and Crockett

The sharpest exchanges featured Jamie Raskin and Pramila Jayapal, who focused on accountability and transparency. Jayapal drew attention to survivors in attendance and pressed Bondi on whether the department had met them or addressed their concerns directly.

Jasmine Crockett also clashed with Bondi, pushing on the implications of names appearing repeatedly in the material and the broader credibility of the department’s rollout. The back-and-forth repeatedly spilled beyond legal process into partisan attacks, escalating tensions in the room.

Thomas Massie breaks with the script

While most Republican questioning emphasized other departmental priorities, Thomas Massie stood out for criticizing what he described as failures around compliance and redactions tied to the Epstein materials. His questions aligned with a broader push for lawmakers to review unredacted records in controlled conditions, and they amplified intra-party pressure on the attorney general from transparency-focused conservatives.

Massie’s line of questioning also intersected with broader demands that Congress get clearer access to what is in the files, what remains withheld, and why.

Who is Pam Bondi, and how old is Pam Bondi?

For viewers asking “who is Pam Bondi,” she is a Republican attorney and former Florida attorney general who now serves as U.S. attorney general. Bondi was born November 17, 1965, making her 60 years old as of February 2026.

That background shaped the hearing’s tone: Bondi repeatedly leaned on her prosecutor credentials and prior public-service record while Democrats argued that her department’s current handling of the Epstein material undercut claims of victim-centered justice.

Key takeaways from the bondi hearing

• The Epstein files, not routine oversight, drove the hearing’s most consequential moments and headlines.

• Bondi refused to directly apologize to survivors in attendance, intensifying Democratic criticism.

• Ted Lieu and others argued the materials point to investigative obligations, not just transparency debates.

• Thomas Massie’s criticism signaled sustained pressure on Bondi from within the Republican conference, not only from Democrats.