Pam Bondi's 5-Hour Epstein Files Testimony: Key Takeaways

The Hearing

On February 5, 2026, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before Congress for approximately five hours regarding the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein investigation files. The hearing was broadcast live on C-SPAN and covered extensively by CNN, NBC News, the Associated Press, and other major outlets.

The hearing followed the DOJ's January 30, 2026, release of 3.5 million pages of Epstein investigation materials through the DOJ Epstein Library, as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law in November 2025.

Key Takeaways

1. Scale of the Release

According to Bondi's testimony, as reported by the Associated Press and NBC News, the DOJ release included:

• 3.5 million pages of investigative documents
• Approximately 2,000 videos from investigation evidence
• Over 180,000 images from case files
• Materials spanning investigations from the early 2000s through 2019

Bondi characterized the release as the most comprehensive disclosure of sex trafficking investigation materials in DOJ history, according to reporting by the New York Times.

2. The 'Politically Exposed Persons' List

One of the most discussed moments of the hearing involved what has been called the "politically exposed persons" list. According to CNN and the Associated Press:

• Bondi confirmed that the DOJ had compiled a list of individuals referenced in the files who hold or held political positions
• She testified that this list had been transmitted to relevant congressional committees in a classified briefing on February 14, 2026
• She declined to publicly name individuals on the list, citing ongoing investigations
• Members of Congress from both parties pressed Bondi on the contents of this list

3. Ongoing Investigations

According to reporting by NBC News and the New York Times, Bondi testified that:

• The DOJ has active, ongoing investigations related to individuals identified in the Epstein files
• She could not discuss specifics of those investigations to avoid compromising them
• The investigations span multiple jurisdictions and involve coordination with international law enforcement
• The department had assigned additional resources to the investigation following the Transparency Act release

4. Redaction Decisions

A significant portion of the hearing addressed the DOJ's decisions about what to redact from the released materials. According to the Associated Press:

• Bondi defended the redactions as necessary to protect victims' identities and the integrity of ongoing investigations
• Several members of Congress questioned whether the redactions were too extensive
• Bondi noted that six names had been inadvertently over-redacted and would be unredacted in a supplemental release
• The balance between transparency and investigation integrity was a recurring theme

5. The 2007 Non-Prosecution Agreement

Members of Congress questioned Bondi about the DOJ's 2007 Non-Prosecution Agreement with Epstein. According to CNN and the New York Times:

• Bondi described the NPA as a "profound failure" of the justice system
• She stated the current DOJ was committed to pursuing justice where the 2007 agreement had failed
• She noted that the blanket immunity granted to unnamed co-conspirators under the NPA remained a legal complication for current investigators
• She declined to commit to a specific timeline for additional prosecutions

The Five-Hour Marathon

The hearing was notable for both its length and its intensity. According to media reporting:

Bipartisan Questioning

Unlike many congressional hearings, the Epstein hearing featured aggressive questioning from both Republican and Democratic members, according to the Associated Press. The bipartisan nature of the inquiry reflected the broad public interest in the Epstein case and the Transparency Act's unanimous congressional passage.

Key Exchanges

According to C-SPAN footage and media reporting, the most significant exchanges included:

• Questions about whether political considerations had influenced any aspect of the file release
• Inquiries about specific individuals named in the documents and whether they were under investigation
• Discussion of the DOJ's coordination with international law enforcement, particularly in the United Kingdom and France
• Questions about the adequacy of the DOJ's resources for processing the investigation

What Bondi Would Not Answer

Bondi declined to answer several categories of questions, according to the New York Times:

• Names of specific individuals under active investigation
• Details of evidence gathered beyond what was publicly released
• Whether particular prominent individuals would face charges
• Classified intelligence-related aspects of the Epstein case

The Broader Congressional Investigation

The Bondi hearing was part of a broader congressional inquiry that has included:

• The Wexner deposition on February 12, 2026, in which Les Wexner testified about his financial relationship with Epstein
• Ghislaine Maxwell invoking the Fifth Amendment at a February 10, 2026, congressional hearing
• The transmission of the "politically exposed persons" list to congressional committees
• Plans for additional hearings and depositions

What This Means

The Bondi hearing established several important facts about the state of the Epstein investigation:

1. Active investigations continue — The DOJ confirmed that investigations are ongoing and span multiple jurisdictions
2. Political figures are involved — The existence of a "politically exposed persons" list confirms that political figures are among those scrutinized
3. International cooperation is occurring — Law enforcement agencies in multiple countries are coordinating
4. More releases may come — The supplemental unredaction of six names suggests the release is an ongoing process
5. The NPA remains a legal obstacle — The 2007 immunity agreement continues to complicate prosecution efforts

What We Know and What We Don't

Based on the hearing testimony and verified reporting:

• Bondi testified for approximately five hours
• The DOJ release includes 3.5 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images
• Active investigations are ongoing
• A "politically exposed persons" list exists and has been shared with Congress
• Six names were inadvertently over-redacted

What remains unknown:

• The identities of individuals under active investigation
• The contents of the "politically exposed persons" list
• The timeline for any potential additional prosecutions
• Whether additional document releases are planned
• The full scope of international law enforcement cooperation

Primary Sources

1. C-SPAN, Attorney General Bondi testimony — c-span.org
2. CNN, Bondi hearing coverage — cnn.com
3. Associated Press, key takeaways — apnews.com
4. New York Times, DOJ handling analysis — nytimes.com
5. NBC News, hearing reporting — nbcnews.com
6. Reuters, fact-check and analysis — reuters.com

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Read about the Wexner deposition and the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Explore the full DOJ Epstein Files topic page or browse the case timeline.