Capitol Hill erupted in fury as bipartisan lawmakers, led by Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, openly drafted inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi — warning of daily fines and even potential arrest for what they call “blatant law-breaking” in withholding 99% of the explosive Jeffrey Epstein files.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law, demanded full public release by December 19, 2025, to deliver justice for victims and expose the dark network of powerful abusers. Yet Bondi’s DOJ delivered only heavily redacted fragments — thousands of pages already public or blacked out — while admitting in court that over two million documents remain under review, far short of the deadline.
Survivors feel betrayed, critics scream cover-up, and the once-loyal AG now faces rare congressional fury that could haul her in cuffs until compliance. With threats mounting and no full disclosure in sight, is Bondi about to become the first sitting Attorney General arrested by Congress?
Capitol Hill erupted in bipartisan fury as Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), the co-sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, openly drafted inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The lawmakers accused her of “blatant law-breaking” by withholding approximately 99% of the explosive Jeffrey Epstein files, threatening daily fines and even the rare possibility of arrest until full compliance is achieved.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed with near-unanimous bipartisan support and signed into law by President Donald Trump in November 2025, mandated the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publicly release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by December 19, 2025. The legislation aimed to deliver long-overdue justice for victims and expose any lingering dark networks involving powerful figures tied to Epstein’s trafficking operations.
Yet, the DOJ’s response fell far short of expectations. On the deadline, the department released only heavily redacted fragments—thousands of pages that were largely already public or blacked out to protect victim identities. In a January 6, 2026, court filing signed by Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ admitted that more than 2 million documents (with some estimates reaching over 5 million pages) remain under review. To date, just 12,285 documents totaling about 125,575 pages have been disclosed across a few tranches—representing less than 1% of the total holdings.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse expressed profound betrayal, with many feeling the slow, partial release perpetuates the cover-up that allowed Epstein and his associates to evade full accountability for decades. Critics from across the political spectrum, including MAGA supporters eager for revelations and Democrats alleging protection of elite figures, decried the delays as a deliberate obstruction. The initial “Phase 1” release earlier in 2025—binders handed to influencers containing mostly recycled information—only amplified distrust.
Massie, appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation in late December 2025, declared that inherent contempt was “the quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims.” He and Khanna emphasized building a bipartisan coalition in the House, where such a resolution could impose daily fines on Bondi without needing Senate approval. Inherent contempt, a seldom-used congressional power last successfully invoked in the 1930s, allows lawmakers to fine, detain, or arrest officials obstructing legislative functions—potentially hauling Bondi before Congress in cuffs until full disclosure.
The DOJ has defended its actions, insisting that victim privacy requires exhaustive redactions and that the massive volume of materials—discovered or compiled post-law—necessitates time. Bondi has reiterated the department’s commitment to transparency, but the admissions in court filings contradict earlier claims of completed reviews. Deputy AG Blanche dismissed contempt threats as premature distractions.
As of mid-January 2026, no full release is in sight, and the standoff has deepened rifts within the Trump administration. With whispers of Bondi’s eroding support from the president and base already circulating, this congressional showdown marks a historic escalation: Could Pam Bondi become the first sitting Attorney General held in inherent contempt—or even arrested—by Congress? The pressure mounts, as survivors, lawmakers, and the public demand answers beyond excuses.
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