Attorney General Pam Bondi faced mounting pressure from Congress and within her own party in early 2026, as bipartisan scrutiny over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files escalated into a subpoena, impeachment threats and reports of internal White House tensions.

The controversy intensified during a February 11, 2026, House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, where Bondi clashed with Democrats over redactions, withheld documents and the treatment of Epstein survivors. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) asked survivors in attendance to stand if they had been unable to secure meetings with the department; several did. Jayapal then pressed Bondi to apologize for the “unacceptable” release of files that allegedly exposed victims’ identities while heavily redacting others. Bondi dismissed the request as “theatrics,” refusing to turn and address the women directly.

Democrats, led by Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), accused Bondi of orchestrating a cover-up to shield powerful figures, including President Trump, whose name appears in uncorroborated allegations within the files. Raskin described the department as having become a tool for political revenge under Bondi. Photos from the hearing later revealed Bondi possessed a printout listing Jayapal’s search history in the DOJ’s Epstein database — documents the congresswoman had reviewed confidentially. Jayapal, Raskin and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) demanded an end to what they called “outrageous secret surveillance” of lawmakers performing oversight, arguing it violated separation of powers.

The department maintained that tracking searches protected against leaks of victim information and that redactions shielded survivors while gaps in releases stemmed from technical errors, such as mislabeling duplicates. NPR’s investigation identified missing sequential files, including FBI interview summaries from 2019 alleging Trump’s involvement in abuse of minors — claims the administration and FBI dismissed as unverified or unfounded. Additional summaries were released in March after public exposure, but critics highlighted initial withholding despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandating full disclosure.

Tensions crossed party lines. On March 4, the House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 to subpoena Bondi for a deposition on the files’ management, with five Republicans — including Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Michael Cloud (R-Texas) — joining Democrats. Mace called the handling potentially “one of the biggest cover-ups in American history,” citing missing videos, audio and logs. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) pressed Bondi on excessive redactions during the February hearing; she responded by accusing him of “Trump derangement syndrome.”

Bondi has been subpoenaed to appear April 14 before Oversight, though she has not committed explicitly, stating she would “follow the law.” Democrats walked out of a related briefing, frustrated by her responses. Impeachment articles surfaced: Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) introduced charges in March for obstruction of Congress, dereliction of duty and politicizing the DOJ; Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) followed with similar accusations tied to subpoena defiance and perjury risks.

Viral commentary suggested Bondi feared removal amid reported White House friction, with President Trump privately criticizing her handling of the fallout. No public attacks from Trump were confirmed, but the bipartisan subpoena and impeachment push signaled eroding support. Bondi defended the releases — over 3 million pages — as fulfilling transparency commitments while prioritizing victim privacy.

The saga tests institutional trust: a law signed by Trump required full disclosure, yet gaps persisted until external pressure forced corrections. With midterms approaching and parallel crises — including the Iran conflict and domestic legal battles — Bondi’s position remains precarious. Her upcoming testimony could clarify or deepen divisions over whether the Justice Department upholds impartiality or shields the powerful.