Pam Bondi hearing today: Lawmakers press attorney general on Epstein files release

A combative Capitol Hill hearing involving Attorney General Pam Bondi is still reverberating on Thursday, February 12, 2026, after lawmakers spent roughly five hours questioning her the day before about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The dispute has turned into a high-stakes test of transparency, victim protections, and oversight—while also becoming a flashpoint for partisan messaging.

What happened at the Bondi hearing

The hearing on Wednesday, February 11, featured repeated questions about how Epstein-related records were reviewed and released, and why safeguards failed when sensitive victim information became publicly visible. Democratic members argued the department’s process prioritized shielding powerful names while exposing survivors to renewed harm.

Bondi pushed back aggressively, disputing characterizations of the release and framing many of the questions as political theater. The exchange included sharp personal barbs and interruptions, with several members describing the session as one of the most contentious Justice Department oversight hearings of the current Congress.

Epstein files and the victim-privacy issue

The central dispute was not simply whether more Epstein material should be made public, but how. Lawmakers focused on instances where survivors’ identifying information appeared in materials that were made available, calling it a preventable failure that could retraumatize victims and place them at risk.

Bondi emphasized that investigations connected to the Epstein matter remain active in certain areas and argued that redactions and withholding decisions can be tied to legal constraints. Critics countered that the department’s handling created the worst of both worlds: not enough clarity about potential abusers, and too much exposure of victims.

The sharpest exchanges: Raskin, Crockett, Lieu, Jayapal, Balint

Several members drove the most pointed confrontations:

• Jamie Raskin pressed Bondi on decision-making around redactions and demanded accountability for what he called a pattern of evasiveness.

• Jasmine Crockett challenged Bondi’s tone and responsiveness, leading to a direct verbal clash that drew attention across the room.

• Ted Lieu accused Bondi of misstating key points about what the records show and how the department communicated about them.

• Pramila Jayapal highlighted survivors present at the hearing and pushed Bondi to address them directly—an appeal Bondi resisted in the moment.

• Becca Balint had a heated interaction with Bondi that ended with Balint walking out after an argument over unrelated remarks raised during questioning.

Together, the exchanges underscored how the Epstein files have become a live-wire issue where oversight, victim advocacy, and partisan strategy collide in the same hearing.

Where Thomas Massie fits in

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie also emerged as a notable figure in the hearing’s aftermath. While many Republicans defended Bondi broadly, Massie criticized the handling of the release and argued that the public still lacks a clear, credible accounting of what is being withheld and why.

Bondi responded dismissively to Massie’s line of criticism, and the cross-party nature of some complaints complicated efforts to frame the hearing as a simple partisan split.

Who is Pam Bondi, and how old is she?

Pam Bondi is a longtime prosecutor and former Florida attorney general who now serves as U.S. attorney general. She was born on November 17, 1965, making her 60 years old as of February 12, 2026. She built national recognition over the last decade through high-profile legal and political roles, and her tenure leading the Justice Department has drawn intensified scrutiny over institutional independence, case-handling standards, and transparency.

What to watch next

Bondi’s critics are signaling that document handling, victim protections, and internal review procedures are likely to remain on the oversight calendar, including requests for clearer timelines and written explanations of how redaction decisions were made. If additional Epstein-related releases occur, lawmakers are expected to focus on whether the department can prove it has fixed the mechanics of review—especially around personally identifying information—before publishing anything new.

For Bondi, the hearing set a clear challenge: restoring confidence that the Justice Department can disclose sensitive records without repeating the same mistakes, while also demonstrating to Congress that oversight questions will be met with answers rather than escalation.