A newly released transcript from former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s interview with the House Oversight Committee is shedding fresh light on the Justice Department’s handling of matters related to Jeffrey Epstein and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, while also revealing Bondi’s blunt view on whether Maxwell deserves a presidential pardon.
The transcript, made public Thursday, shows Bondi repeatedly distancing herself from key decisions involving the Epstein files and emphasizing the role played by former Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The interview has reignited debate surrounding the government’s handling of the long-running Epstein saga, a case that continues to generate public scrutiny years after Epstein’s death and Maxwell’s conviction.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking a minor, transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity, and multiple conspiracy charges. During her trial, several victims testified that Maxwell recruited young women and underage girls for Epstein and other older men. Some witnesses also alleged that Maxwell personally participated in the abuse.
Questions surrounding Maxwell intensified after she met with Blanche for two days last year at a maximum-security federal women’s prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Shortly afterward, she was transferred to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, a minimum-security facility. The transfer drew criticism from some victims, who viewed the move as unusually favorable treatment for an inmate convicted of serious crimes.
The controversy surrounding the Epstein files, Maxwell’s treatment, and speculation about a possible presidential pardon for Maxwell became a persistent issue for the administration. Critics repeatedly raised concerns about how information related to the case was handled, and the matter became a significant source of political pressure.
Bondi’s appearance before the House Oversight Committee was itself unusual. Initially, she had been subpoenaed to provide sworn testimony regarding the Justice Department’s rollout of the Epstein files. However, after leaving the Department of Justice in April, the agency argued she was no longer subject to the subpoena and would not appear under oath.
Negotiations between committee Republicans and Democrats ultimately resulted in an unsworn interview instead. No video recording was permitted, and only a written transcript was released to the public.
That arrangement drew criticism from several Democrats, who argued Bondi should have been required to testify under oath. Some also accused her of attempting to shift responsibility for decisions involving the Epstein matter onto Blanche.
The transcript reveals that Bondi repeatedly referenced her former deputy and emphasized his leadership role.
When asked about her involvement in carrying out legislation requiring the release of Epstein-related files, Bondi responded, “Todd Blanche supervised that entire process.”
She later added, “He was leading the Epstein matter and the release of everything from the beginning.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Bondi stated that Blanche oversaw the entire investigation and had publicly addressed the matter on multiple occasions. His name appears throughout the transcript dozens of times.
Bondi also denied having any role in Maxwell’s transfer to the Texas prison camp. She said she learned about the move only after it became public and stated she had “nothing to do with that.”
Asked whether the transfer could have been connected to Maxwell’s interview with Blanche, Bondi said she had no knowledge of such a connection.
Perhaps the most striking exchange came when Rep. Tom Emmer asked whether Maxwell should receive a pardon.
Bondi’s answer was unequivocal.
“No,” she replied. “I believe she should die in prison.”
Asked why, Bondi described Maxwell as a “monster” and argued that her role in recruiting young women into what she characterized as a life of abuse made her every bit as culpable as Epstein himself.
The remarks underscore the continuing political and public fallout from one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent memory, a case whose lingering questions continue to reverberate through Washington.
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