Epstein Files Hearing Sparks Clash Over Trump Ties

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi forcefully defended President Donald Trump during a tense congressional hearing on Wednesday, following the Department of Justice’s release of millions of documents related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial.

The hearing took place as the DOJ began releasing more than three million pages of records—commonly referred to as the “Epstein Files”—under a new transparency law. As additional batches of documents are made public, several high-profile individuals have been mentioned, including the current U.S. president.

During testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, the atmosphere became increasingly confrontational, particularly as several of Epstein’s victims were present in the hearing room. Democratic lawmakers pressed Bondi on the scope of the document release and whether additional individuals connected to Epstein’s network remain under investigation.

Representative Ted Lieu directly questioned Bondi about Donald Trump’s past association with Epstein. In response, Bondi firmly stated that there is “no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime,” and accused members of Congress of using the issue to distract from the administration’s policy achievements.

Her remarks quickly ignited backlash on social media. Critics accused the attorney general of placing herself above legal scrutiny, while others claimed she was dismissing potentially relevant information contained in the released files.

Democratic officials also raised concerns about whether the full extent of Epstein’s connections has yet been disclosed. The ongoing release of records stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in November 2025.

As document disclosures continue, lawmakers and the public alike are closely watching for further revelations and clarification regarding who may still be under investigation.