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The Epstein Chronicles
The Pam Bondi Congressional Oversight Committee Epstein Related Transcript (Part 5) (6/6/26)
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Pam Bondi’s congressional transcript showed her trying to defend the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files while repeatedly distancing herself from the day-to-day mechanics of the review. She told House Oversight lawmakers that Todd...
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What's up everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to get right back to that Pam Bondi interview with the House Oversight Committee. Question before you left your position as Attorney General, were there attorneys or other DOJ employees still working to rectify redaction errors in the files? Answer, I believe so, especially if anyone reached out to us saying that there was an error, including members of Congress who have the ability to look at the unredacted versions. I believe they still have that ability. Mr. Emmer, we're at the end of the majority's hour, so we're gonna go off the record. Redacted. We can go back on record before we get started. I understand that the witness has a clarification that she'd like to make Bondi yeah, I believe one of the questions that was posed to me pertaining to Glenn Max while being transferred from a prison was phrased the question was phrased that she was transferred from a maximum security prison to a low security prison. And I don't believe that she was ever in a maximum security prison. I believe it was a lower facility prison that she was initially in and when she was transferred it was to a comparable prison. But as my answer was that would have to be for the Bureau of Prisons to answer that. What she doesn't say, though, is that the Attorney General is in charge of all of that. The Attorney General is in charge of the BOP as well. And to help her out a little bit because, you know, she doesn't know Maxwell was not at the same kind of facility as Camp Ryan. Maxwell was at a low level facility in Tallahassee where she should have stayed, by the way. And then she was moved to a federal camp, which is a whole ass different story. Good morning, Ms. Bondi. I'll be doing most of the questioning for the minority today. Before we get started, I want to say that we're aware of your recent health diagnosis. We wish you a full and speedy recovery. Bondi. Thank you. Question if you need a break at any point today, please let us know. I also want to thank you for your long career in public service. Bondi. Thank you. Question. As you know, our conversation today is going to focus on the DOJ's investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and Glenn Maxwell and on the DOJ's compliance with the committee's subpoena and the Epstein File Transparency Act. Just a few things before we get started. First, I'll note for the record that today's interview is not being videotaped. Committee Democrats strongly disagree with that decision. We believe that Jeffrey Epstein survivors and the American people deserve to watch today's interview and to reach their own conclusions. And the lack of video here today is another failure in transparency and accountability for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes redacted. To that end, I'll introduce as minority exhibit A, this is a letter from a group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors to chairman comer dated May 20, requesting that this interview be videotaped. Bondi Minority Exhibit A was marked for identification. Question Ms. Bondi, I know you may have discussed today's questions in other forums. Our goal here is to create one single record that addresses as many of the issues as possible. We appreciate your patience and we'll try to have you repeat yourself as little as possible. To the extent that any of my questions or your answers involve survivor names or other survivor identifying information, we would ask that the majority redacts that information prior to releasing the transcript publicly. And with that we can get started. And I just had sort of a preliminary global question. We will ask everything today to the best of your recollection. But the impression I got from the last round was that in a general sense, on a day to day basis, then Deputy Attorney General Blanche, now Acting Attorney General Blanche, had a more direct day to day supervisory role over the Epstein files and related matters. Would you tend to agree with that answer yes. He supervised the Epstein file release. Question and with respect to Epstein files related matters that link directly to the FBI, is it correct that Director Patel would have a more intimate, detailed understanding of that than you probably would? ANSWER yes. Question and I think if I heard correctly, it sounds like with respect to this committee subpoena, a DOJ official named Stanley Woodward was the person to whom that topic was generally delegated. Is that right? Answer On a portion of the documents being released, Stanley Woodward supervised that release. Question okay, I can ask later when we get to it, but is there a different official who has sort of been the person in charge of the committee subpoena since then, other than Mr. Woodward? Answer no. Todd Blanche I believe. Question okay. To the extent that this case for other topics we discussed today were you yourself are not sure, but there is somebody else that was either managing it or in charge of it. If you could just let us know when that's the case, that's very helpful for us and we'd appreciate it. Ms. Bondi, have you ever met Jeffrey Epstein? Not to my knowledge. Question Is there any uncertainty on your part about whether you may have without knowing? I was Attorney General for the State of Florida for eight years and probably met thousands and thousands of individuals at events, but to my knowledge, I have never met him. Question have you ever met Ghislaine Maxwell Bondi? To my knowledge, no. Same answer Question I'd like to ask you about some potential investigative leads linked to the Epstein files that the DOJ released. During your tenure at doj, were you aware of any open investigation into any individual or entity related to participation in Mr. Epstein's crimes? Answer at one point we asked Jay Clayton in the Southern District of New York to open an investigation, and I don't know whether that's still open or not. Question what was the extent of your knowledge of the status of that investigation as your last day as Attorney General Bondi? I don't recall my last day. What was the status of it? Question Was it open as far as you know? I don't recall. Who would be most likely to know that? Would that be Mr. Clayton? Mr. Clayton. And we very publicly asked him to look into any other crimes committed as a result of the Epstein files. I don't know the status of that. During your tenure as Attorney General, did DOJ ever contact any Epstein survivors to follow up on any investigative leads contained in the Epstein files? Answer by Bondi that would be a question for Director Patel and Deputy Director, excuse me, Deputy Attorney General at the time, now Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Question to your knowledge, did the Department of Justice ever investigate Steve Tisch for any potential crimes related to Jeffrey Epstein Bondi to my knowledge, I don't know. Question to your knowledge, did the DOJ ever investigate Jeff Staley for any alleged crimes related to Jeffrey Epstein? I don't know. To your knowledge, has DOJ questioned Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, former Navy Secretary John Phelan, or any other administration official about their ties to Jeffrey Epstein? I don't recall. That would be a question for Deputy Attorney general, now acting U.S. attorney. Excuse me, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. I'm just going to call him Mr. Blanche today. It's no disrespect. I. I just don't want to get tangled up with all the different titles. To your understanding, or should I say, do you have any understanding of DOJ's decision to investigate or not investigate Les Wexner as a co conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein? Answer not to my knowledge. That would be a question for the FBI. Question Is Director Patel a reasonable place to start with that type of question? Answer yes. Question in the 2019 SDNY case, FBI officials identified 10 alleged co conspirators to interview in connection with Mr. Epstein's crimes. There's an email reflecting the fact which I will introduce now as Minority Exhibit B.
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We're halfway through the year and a lot of people are running on empty without fully realizing it. Grow Therapy helps you find care before burnout hits. Grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. They connect you with thousands of independent licensed therapists across the US Offering both virtual and in person sessions, including nights and weekends. You can search by insurance, specialty, identity or availability and get started in as little as two days. And you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost. No subscriptions, no long term commitments, just pay per session. Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growtherapy.com trynow today to get started. That's growtherapy.com trynow availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan
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and I'll give you a moment to look it over. Bondi what was the date of that? I'll give you a copy, but the date is July 7, 2019. Ms. Dylan, look at the document, but I'll make an objection. Redacted. To your knowledge, who are these 10 individuals? I'm going to object to this question. It's beyond the scope of the witness voluntary interview here today which is concerning the things that she did or is responsible for during her tenure as Attorney General. Well, this goes directly to the Epstein investigation and I think the 2019 investigation was also discussed in the previous round. So I'd be hard pressed to understand the nature of that objection. Dylan, I don't know what to do to help you understand, but it's my objection. If you could just use the microphone so folks can hear and I think the button there. Dylan. Yeah, I understand your question, and it's beyond the scope. Would it be your view that the 2019 Epstein investigation in its totality is beyond the scope of today's conversation? Dylan, the scope of today's transcribed interview is what the former Attorney General sitting next to me did regarding the Epstein transparency files and related matters during her tenure. And that's the scope of it question. So just sort of yes or no, would it be your understanding that, for example, the 2019 Epstein investigation in its totality would be outside the scope of today's conversation? Dylan. Yes. Question. Okay. Would it be your understanding that any Epstein related fact or question that does not live inside the witness's date range as Attorney General would be outside the scope of today's conversation? Dylan. Generally, yes, Unless she has personal knowledge that comes from that time, I. E. Post Dates that time period redacted. Could you, I believe we have some confusion about this. Just articulate for us and for the record, the link between the objection and the agency's interest. Because our understanding is obviously you're not here as a personal counsel, so I would expect to hear something like that from the witness. But why is it coming from you, dingbat? Dylan. Because we want clear testimony coming from the department of justice concerning what any witness from the Department of Justice, and that's the basis on which this witness is here concerning her tenure as Attorney general. And so that's the scope that we've agreed to redacted. The witness is perfectly capable, it sounds like, of saying she's not sure if she's not sure. So I'm not following why that would be some kind of insurmountable problem. Dylan. Yeah, I can't help you follow it. But that's her objection and limitation today. Redacted. Okay. It's not even necessarily clear to me. That would be her place to draw the line. So we'll phrase it this way. I'll re ask the question, and if the witness does not want to answer, we'll have the witness say that she doesn't want to answer and state the basis for that. Dylan, you're not going to dictate the objections that I make, but you can ask your questions and I'll instruct the witness to answer or not. Accordingly because she is here on behalf of the United States Department of Justice because her testimony is concerning that time Redacted Yeah, it's kind of a non sequitur. But yes, I agree with but I'm going to set it up that way that it's reflected on the record just so we get that clarified. So Ms. Bondi, with respect to exhibit B that I provided and if you don't mind, it sounds like if you could get a little closer to the microphone, there's been some problems. With respect to exhibit B, who are the 10 individuals co conspirators of Mr. Epstein reflected in this email? Dylan she's not going to answer that. Redacted. Ms. Bondi, are you refusing to answer that question? Bondi May I have a moment to confer answer of course we can go off the record if you need a minute to confer. They come back on the record. Bondi I don't recall ever reviewing this document, so I don't know who's in it. And that came from the FBI to New York question. That's helpful. Thank you. Would Director Patel be a logical starting point for those of us who might be interested in in this question? Bondi or someone at the FBI New York because that's who's on the bottom of the document question. And so it's correct that not having knowledge of who the individuals are, you would not have knowledge of which of these folks was interviewed or not interviewed. Is that right? Answer correct. All right, folks, we're going to wrap up right here and in the next episode dealing with the topic, we're going to pick up where we left off. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.