The Justice Department’s (DOJ) botched release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein was front and center Friday during ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi’s interview with the House Oversight Committee, during which, a DOJ attorney "intervened" to stop Bondi from answering a direct question about President Donald Trump, one Democratic lawmaker claimed.
Bondi agreed to appear for a closed-door interview with members of the Oversight Committee over the DOJ’s handling of Epstein-related files – around half of which remain unpublished, which critics have claimed to be unlawful. However, she previously defied a congressional subpoena to testify under oath. As such, she faces no legal risk for providing false statements.
Even so, Trump’s DOJ apparently felt compelled to stop her from answering certain questions about Trump, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), a member of the Oversight Committee, claimed just outside the interview room.
“She has been asked multiple times about the Trump administration, about her conversations with the president,” Stansbury said.
“When asked specifically about a conversation with Donald Trump, one of the DOJ attorneys intervened and said she did not have to answer the question because it was a voluntary interview, and said, quote, ‘we don’t even have to assert privilege,’ and, quote, ‘we refuse to provide answers.’”
Other Democratic members of the Oversight Committee similarly condemned Bondi’s performance. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) called the interview a “ridiculous charade,” and Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) referred to it as “disgusting.”
Stansbury also noted that other than Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the Oversight Committee chair, no other Republicans participated in the closed-door interview, sparking even more fury from the New Mexico Democrat.
“That means that the DOJ is intervening on behalf of Pam Bondi to stop her from answering questions about what happened in the cover-up in this case, and her conversations with Donald Trump,” Stansbury said.
“This is a cover-up! This will be remembered as the largest cover-up likely in American history, and it is clear that this interview is a smokescreen to try to show the American people that they are complying while they are not,” Stansbury added.
The Epstein cover-up continues. This is what’s happening in the room ⬇️ #ReleaseTheFilespic.twitter.com/N7brgr7g5R
— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) May 29, 2026