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The Epstein Chronicles
The Pam Bondi Congressional Oversight Committee Epstein Related Transcript (Part 7) (6/7/26)
00:15:52
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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- [00:00]
Podcast Host
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.
- [01:00]
Interviewer
What's up everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to get right back to the Pam Bondi interview with Congress Question with respect to that memo's assertion that no further disclosure of files would be appropriate or warranted, do you recall who made that decision at the time that no further Epstein files should be released? Can you point out where you're reading that question? Sure. Down at the bottom of the first page there's just one sentence and it says the determination of the DOJ and the FBI that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. Answer I can't answer that. Other than that was in July and we had sought, meaning the Department of Justice, to unseal in July documents from courts in the Southern District of Florida and Southern District of New York. And that was denied, I believe, by both judges, the release of those documents. If you know, would the Department have been aware of the content of the 3 million or so pages that we now have seen at the time that the memo was written in July? I don't believe so. Okay, so that judgment about no further disclosure of files would be warranted was made on a lesser understanding of what the files were then as we sit here today. Well, clearly they did not know that there were 3 million plus approximately 3 million pages of documents at the time. As far as you know, was that July memo written and formed exclusively within DOJ and the FBI or did the White House have any role in crafting that memo? I don't recall. Question the month prior in June, Elon Musk had tweeted that time to drop the really big Bomb ealdonaldtrump is in the Epstein files and that's the real reason they have not been made public. Did you have any conversation with any agency or administration staff about the tweet? I'm not going to discuss any conversations that I did or didn't have with the department or administration Question, I think, or conversations inside the department, I think have been discussed to a pretty good extent here today. So is there some more nuance to that idea? Answer no Question Okay. Is it that you will not answer that particular question for the record? Answer Will you repeat the question? Answer yeah, the Elon Musk tweet, which was last June, Mr. Musk said, quote, it's time to drop the really big bomb ealdonaldtrump is in the Epstein files. The question was just whether you had any conversation with subordinates, colleagues about that tweet. Dylan, that question calls for communication that she already said she's not going to testify about and she already answered that. So I definitely don't think it does. But can you help me understand in what sense? In other words, it's not a conversation with the President, it's during her time as Attorney General. Dylan, she stated that she's not going to testify about executive branch communication and your question elicited that it was broader than the President. Definitely. I'm not asking about presidential communication. So is the category not just president or close aides to president but inside of DOJ conversation? That question redacted your kinda changing the scope of your question actually, I don't think I am. I think you are. I'm definitely not. The question is just whether Ms. Bondi, and I'll direct it to Ms. Bondi had any discussions that you can recall with colleagues at DOJ about the tweet that I just described. Dylan so that's a different question than the one you had originally asked. You can answer the question if you can, without revealing privileged communication. Bondi. Sure. I'm sure we did because that was quite a post. Yes, but I can't recall the extent of the conversation other than did you see this question? To your knowledge, did that tweet have any impact on the department's decision to release the July memoir we previously discussed? Answer to my knowledge, no question. All right. I would like to ask a few questions about Ghislaine Maxwell and the conditions of her incarceration. This topic was discussed to some extent. Bondi jumps in. Can I have a minute to confer? Question sure, of course. Answer there's something I might want. We can go off the record for a moment. Do you have a clarification? BONDI no question. Okay. We're actually going to do a few questions for members that are here, so I'll turn that over in that direction. Now we have Mr. Garcia asking the questions. Mr. Garcia, Ms. Bondi, thank you again for being here and again, just want to reiterate, we wish you a full and speedy recovery. So thanks for being here. Ms. Bondi, a couple questions. I want to start first. There's been reporting that indicates that you had informed President Trump on May 25 that his name appeared multiple times in the Epstein files that were reviewed by the DOJ. A couple of months later, on July 7th of 2025, which was discussed earlier, the DOJ and the FBI released a memo saying that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. We just discussed that. Now, looking at the conversation that was reported back in May, why did you tell President Trump he was in the files? BONDI I'm not going to discuss the conversations I did or did not have with the President of the United States, and I've said that multiple times on multiple topics throughout my tenure. GARCIA what was President Trump's reaction when you had that conversation with him? No response. Dylan asked and answered. GARCIA Did President Trump at any time tell you not to disclose what was in the files? Dylan asked and answered. GARCIA Let me get to Ghislaine Maxwell. It's clear you're not answering my questions about President Trump, about any conversation with President Trump, what he may have directed you to do. Is that correct? I'm not going to answer any questions, any conversations that I've had with the President of the United States, whether we had them or didn't have them or the substance. GARCIA so let's look at the handling of Glenn Maxwell. Obviously, a convicted sex trafficker. She's sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. You earlier today called her evil. We can agree on that. I wonder, just to re clarify, Ms. Bondi, do you think that Maxwell deserves a pardon for her crimes? BONDI no. Garcia okay, thank you. We agree on that as well. Now, I also want to talk to you about the prison. She was moved to a less secure prison. You mentioned earlier that, that it was comparable. In fact, that's not correct. There are four levels of prison within the bop. She was moved to the minimum level from another level. So she was actually moved to a lower level, less secure facility per bop. We have an exhibit on it. If we need to also share that our council can pass it around. Do you think that she should have been moved to a less secure prison. BONDI I think any inmate should be moved somewhere where they can be safe, regardless of what crime they committed. That would be a question directed at the Bureau of Prisons. And I have full faith in Billy Marshall, who is the director of the Bureau of Prisons. GARCIA but will you acknowledge that she was moved to a less secure facility? No, because I have no knowledge of that. GARCIA okay, I do want to make sure that we get that exhibit out, but that is the case. She was moved to a less secure facility. Do you know if acting AG Todd Blanche ordered the move to a less secure facility? I have no knowledge of that. GARCIA did you ever ask anyone to move Ghislaine Maxwell to a different prison? As I stated earlier, I knew she was moved when I read it, I guess online or saw it. GARCIA okay, did you talk to the acting AG Mr. Blanche, after you read it online? DYLAN on any topic? GARCIA on the actual move Ghislaine Maxwell to the less secure facility? BONDI I don't recall. I would direct that, though, to the Bureau of Prisons. I don't recall. GARCIA okay, I just think obviously the move Ghislaine Maxwell to a less secure facility was everywhere was being discussed in the news, a massive, obviously move that the Bureau of Prisons ended up making under whose direction we still have yet no answer on. And so it's interesting, of course, that you don't recall if there was ever a conversation did you have a conversation with the Bureau of Prisons about the move after what happened? BONDI I believe I ran into them and at an event and I asked was moved to a similar level, and they said yes, I believe. But this is why it's not unusual. As a career prosecutor, she was on top of the news. And if she was getting threats, I don't know even where she was moved, where she's housed now. But if any defendant at any level is getting threats, it's common to move people within the prison system. That's why it wasn't that unusual. To me, that's an absolute lie, by the way. And also, nobody was threatening her in the honor Dorm in Tallahassee. Now you see why Pam Bondi didn't want to be under oath. GARCIA thank you. And would you agree that perhaps a question should have been directed at the Bureau of Prisons and to the acting AG Todd Blanche? BONDI yes. Question. Okay. And so Mr. Blanche, Bureau of Prisons. That's where the information is at. Knowing what you DYLAN jumps in. I would just Note, Congressman, that Mr. Blanche actually made those remarks and said that during a briefing that you walked out of. Mr. Garcia so knowing what you know today, do you think that Ms. Maxwell should have been moved to that facility? BONDI Anytime I don't have details on if she received death threats, what kind of threats, but anytime an inmate at any level is threatened, they will be moved. Well, that's going to be great to hear for a lot of people that are being threatened in prison right now all over the country. Pam Bondi, former ag, says you're going to be moved. Start hitting those petitions up and if you have family members in prison time to start sending letters and saying that they're being threatened so everybody gets moved to a camp. That's what Bondi's saying, right?
- [11:07]
Podcast Host
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.
- [12:08]
Interviewer
It's very common among prison, state and federal to move inmates and she had just recently given a very public interview. Garcia thank you. Last question. You are aware that of course there was the Epstein File Transparency act that passed in Congress, but there was also an active subpoena that the DOJ did actually not fully respond to. Are you aware of that? BONDI I'm sorry, could you slow down and repeat that again, please? GARCIA so you're aware that besides the Epstein File Transparency act that passed in Congress, signed by the president, prior to that, there was an active subpoena passed by an oversight committee for the full release of the files and that those two are separate. BONDI yeah. And that's when we released, I believe approximately 33,000 or over 30,000. She gets cut off by. Garcia thank you. And will continue with some additional questions on that. I'm going to turn this over to Representative Frost. Mr. Frost. Thank you very much. One quick question for clarification, for the record. The council kept referring to your participation here as a voluntary interview. Are you aware that this committee issued a subpoena to you? Yes. Do you not consider this sit down to be complying with that subpoena? I am no longer Attorney General. The subpoena was regarding when I was Attorney General. I'm here voluntarily today. She gets cut off by Frost. So is it your opinion is that you sit. She cuts him off to comply with you. Frost again. So just to make sure, for the record, in your opinion, the sit down is not to comply with the subpoena, but it's a voluntary interview having nothing to do with the subpoena issued by the committee. Bondi. I'm here to answer any questions that you have that I can answer regarding Jeffrey Epstein. I also came in with. I was Attorney General to this committee voluntarily with Deputy Attorney General at the time, Blanche, who answered many of the questions that you're asking now. However, during that hearing, I believe many of you, if not all of you, left. Frost cuts her off. Yes, ma'. Am. Yes, ma'. Am. Thank you. And just for a clarification of the record, now she cuts him off. So many of those. Excuse me. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Many of those have been asked and answered by, at the time, the Deputy Attorney General. Frost. Yeah. Thank you, ma'. Am. And just for clarification, for the record, you do not see this sit down, this voluntary interview, as you call it, as complying with the subpoena that the committee issued. You see this as a separate thing, Mr. Ginn, I'm sure. I'm confident that you're aware that the answer to that is actually that there was a robust discussion between the Department of Justice and this committee about how the Department of Justice would fulfill its obligation in responding to. To the subpoena. And this sit down interview right now is the Department of Justice compliance with the committee's request to have time to speak with the Attorney General? Yeah, because Comer hooked her up. Stop all the bullshit, Mr. Frost. So, Ms. Bondi, just for clarification, for the record, is the answer. Yes. You do see this sit down as complying with the subpoena? Mr. Ginn, again, the contents of former Attorney General Bondi's testimony do not overlap with the content of Counsel's negotiation with you all. So, I mean, I think the answer to that information is really directed to Ms. Dillon and myself and the Attorney General, Mr. Frost. Okay. So, Ms. Bondi, you don't have an answer for that, on whether or not you see this as complying with the subpoena? Ms. Dillon. She's not going to answer that. Mr. Frost. Okay, so you won't answer the question. Okay, back to the Glenn Maxwell transfer. Are you aware if President Trump was informed about the transfer before it happened? I'm not going to discuss any conversation that I had or did not have with the President of the United States on this topic or others. Mr. Frost. Yeah, I understand that, but it's not about the conversation you might have had with him. My question is, are you aware if he knew about it before it happened? Bondi. I'm not going to discuss any conversation that I might have had or not had with the President of the United States. Mr. Frost. So, just for clarification, it seems like you won't answer my question relating to conversations you've had with the President, but also any conversations you've had about the President. Is that true? No question. Okay, so my question has to do with if you're aware that he knew about it, not if he told you he knew about it. Ginn jumps in once again. I'm just going to object to this entire line of questioning. It's just argumentative and completely unproductive. Redacted Counsel this is a transcribed interview. There are no objections. Frost. Yeah, I'm just asking questions, and I'm just trying to understand the scope of things. Dylan if members are chewing up their time, repeating themselves, that is not our problem. Bondi. I am not aware of the President having any knowledge of it, whether it be from reading in the paper or people reporting that he did or. Or talking to anyone about it. I have no knowledge of that. Mr. Frost. Okay, thank you, ma'. Am. Did anyone in the administration ever express concern about the transfer or urge BOP to reverse it? Bondi. I'm not going to discuss any conversations that I had or did not have with the administration. Mr. Frost. Okay, thank you. Redacted. Just a really quick clarification. And it's not so much for you all, but more just for the record, the reference to the relationship between the subpoena, a deposition, a transcribed interview, related discussions. We have not been part of those discussions, and we haven't been read into those discussions. So we don't actually have any knowledge of that. So that's just for the transcript. Please continue. All right, folks, we're going to wrap up right here, and in the next episode, 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.