Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi told members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee (the “Committee”) that then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche oversaw the Justice Department’s (DOJ) efforts to review and release records connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

The testimony was made during a closed-door interview held last month and later published by the Committee. These statements come in the wake of continued scrutiny of the DOJ’s handing of Epstein-related records.

The inquiry is part of the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into the federal government’s handing of the Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. The Committee is seeking more information about how decisions were made regarding their review and public release.

Bondi’s remarks place Blanche at the center of the investigation surrounding the review and release of the Epstein records. According to a transcript released by the Committee, Bondi replied “Yes” when asked whether efforts related to the implementation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act had been directed to Blanche. When asked further as to whether Blanche had been overseeing efforts related to the review and release of the records, Bondi answered, “Yes. Todd Blanche oversaw the entire investigation…”

Bondi further testified that she delegated oversight of the process to Blanche in his capacity as Deputy AG, and that the day-to-day responsibility for the review rested with the Blanche’s office. Lawmakers from both parties have pressed DOJ officials for details about what records exist, how they were reviewed, and whether additional disclosures are planned.

With congressional investigators continuing to examine the government’s handing of Epstein-related records, Bondi’s testimony provides new insight into the chain of command that oversaw the review and disclosure process.

The investigation into Jeffrey Epstein has been under significant scrutiny since Epstein committed suicide while in custody for federal sex trafficking charges in 2019. In August, the DOJ released transcripts of interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, which have been criticized for being “already mostly public information.” President Donald Trump has been under fire for lack of transparency concerning his connections to Epstein, with a poll finding last year that 69 percent of US adults believe that the government is hiding Epstein’s alleged client list. This followed a statement released by the FBI and DOJ confirming that Epstein had died by suicide and did not have a “client list” of prominent individuals.