Key House Democrats demand Bondi cease tracking Epstein files search history
House Democrats Call for DOJ to Stop Tracking Lawmakers’ Review of Epstein Files
A group of House Democrats have demanded that the Department of Justice immediately halt its tracking of lawmakers’ review of unredacted files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Representatives Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, and Robert Garcia penned a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Justice Department to create a new protocol that would allow members to thoroughly review the fully unredacted documents.
Jayapal, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, accused Bondi of spying on her search history during a recent visit to the DOJ to view the Epstein files. At a Judiciary Committee hearing, Bondi was seen with printouts labeled “Jayapal Pramila Search History,” which included documents that Jayapal had searched for in the DOJ’s files.
The lawmakers expressed outrage at the surveillance of their searches, stating that over a dozen Democratic members and Representative Thomas Massie had also been spied on by the DOJ. They called Bondi’s conduct “outrageous” and emphasized the need for transparency in the review process of the Epstein files.
In their letter, the lawmakers requested a meeting with the Justice Department by February 20 to discuss the surveillance of their searches and to develop a new process for members to access and review the Epstein files. They demanded a commitment from the DOJ to cease tracking members’ review of the documents.
The Justice Department has not yet commented on the letter, but earlier in the week, they stated that they log all searches on their systems to protect against the release of victim information. However, they did not provide an explanation for why Bondi had a printout of Jayapal’s search history during the Judiciary Committee hearing.
The House Democrats’ call for transparency and accountability in the review of the Epstein files highlights the importance of congressional oversight and the protection of sensitive information. As the controversy surrounding Epstein’s case continues to unfold, it is crucial for lawmakers to have unfettered access to the documents to ensure justice is served.
