Women who survived sexual abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein say they are not confident former Attorney General Pam Bondi will be honest about the botched rollout of the Epstein files when she is expected to sit with Congress for a recorded interview Friday.
For months, survivors have demanded Justice Department officials explain how and why sensitive information about victims, including names and photos, was left unredacted despite Congress’s explicit instructions.
Bondi, who was ousted from her position in April, is set to answer questions about the Epstein files from the House Oversight Committee members in a closed-door transcribed interview – though she will not be under oath and it will not be filmed.
“I don’t think things will be honest,” Marina Lacerda, a survivor who met Epstein when she was just 14 years old, told CNN Thursday.
“We do feel that she will continue to protect whoever she is protecting. I don’t think things will be different. I think tomorrow might be something even very quick. I think she may not even sit through the whole thing,” Lacerda added.
Jess Michaels, a sexual assault survivor, told “The Back Room with Andy Ostroy” in March, “I think that she will double down on the lies, if she shows up.”
Bondi has faced intense scrutiny for overseeing the department as it failed to release the Epstein files within the congressionally mandated timeline and with proper redactions. When documents were released, survivors said photos of nude women or girls, the names of non-public accusers and sensitive personal information were all left to the public.
The botched rollout occurred after Bondi promised to release the Epstein files, claimed she had them sitting on her desk, backtracked and refused to release them, and then fiercely defended her department’s handling of it.
During a contentious congressional hearing in February, Bondi lashed out at Democratic lawmakers who questioned her handling of the Epstein files and refused to acknowledge survivors who sat in the room.
“I can’t begin to explain why Pam Bondi chose to pretend we weren’t even in the room,” Michaels told NewsNation
“I have no reason to believe anyone in authority at the DOJ will be truthful or diligent about doing their job,” Michaels said.
While serving as attorney general, the House Oversight Committee issued a bipartisan subpoena for her testimony to seek answers on the Epstein files rollout. But once Bondi was dismissed from her job, the Justice Department insisted it no longer applied. After lawmakers threatened to hold Bondi in contempt, she agreed to the closed-door interview.
It’s unclear the extent of questions Bondi will answer. While she is not under oath, all witnesses are required to verbally acknowledge an understanding to tell the truth. Making false comments or withholding information could lead to criminal charges, an Oversight Committee aide told NewsNation.
Danielle Bensky, a survivor who met Epstein when she was 17 years old, told NewsNation this week that survivors hope Bondi will be honest.
“We hope that she will be honest about the fact that there are real investigative leads the DOJ should be following,” Bensky said. “Where are the rest of the files? Why are certain files being held? She is no longer the AG but she was at the time and survivors deserve answers from her.”
