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May 29, 2026 House Oversight Committee scheduled and later downgraded Pam Bondi's Epstein-files testimony to an unsworn interview Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
A congressional committee weakened oversight formality by removing the oath and video requirement for a cabinet official's testimony on a major transparency matter.
Supporting reports
- Pam Bondi scheduled to testify before House Oversight Committee on Epstein files handling — The House Oversight Committee scheduled Pam Bondi, Trump's former attorney general, to testify on May 29, 2026, regarding the government's handling of Epstein files and the wider scandal. This hearing follows the April contempt resolution filed against Bondi for initially refusing to respond to a subpoena.
- House Oversight Chair downgraded Bondi's appearance to transcribed interview — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer downgraded Attorney General Pam Bondi's scheduled appearance from a formal deposition to a transcribed interview, eliminating the requirement that she answer questions under oath and removing videotaping of the proceedings. This procedural change reduced the formality and accountability of her testimony regarding DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
May 29, 2026 Pam Bondi testified before House committee, admitted redaction errors, and deflected blame regarding Epstein files Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The former Attorney General acknowledged flaws in the DOJ's handling of sensitive files while a DOJ attorney blocked questions about the President's involvement, limiting accountability.
Supporting reports
- Pam Bondi testifies before House committee on Epstein files handling and admits to redaction errors — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared for a transcribed deposition before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on May 29, 2026, to answer questions about the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files under her leadership. Bondi admitted to "redaction errors" in the released files but defended the department's overall compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. She stated she delegated oversight to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rather than leading the effort herself. Democratic lawmakers reported that Bondi refused to answer questions about Donald Trump's involvement in the release or direction of redactions.
- Pam Bondi testifies before House oversight committee on DOJ's handling of Epstein files — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Reform Committee to answer questions about the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein case files during her tenure. Bondi testified that Todd Blanche, her deputy and Trump's nominee to replace her as attorney general, was "in charge" of the entire release of Epstein files. She acknowledged redaction errors but defended the department's commitment to transparency. Bondi also stated she had no involvement in Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer and declined to discuss conversations with Trump.
- DOJ attorney intervened to block congressional questions about Trump's role in Epstein file handling — During Bondi's appearance before the House Oversight Committee, a Department of Justice attorney sat beside the former Attorney General and personally intervened to shut down questioning whenever Democrats asked about Donald Trump's role or knowledge regarding the Epstein files. Congresswoman Stansbury (D-NM) stated that "The United States Department of Justice is intervening on behalf of Pam Bondi to stop her from answering questions about what happened in the cover-up of this case and her conversations with Donald Trump." Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) reported asking Bondi five separate times about her conversations with Trump; she refused to answer all five times due to DOJ intervention.
- Pam Bondi refused oath, filming, and questions about Trump at House Oversight Committee deposition on Epstein files — Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on May 29, 2026, for a hearing on the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Bondi refused to be sworn in, refused to be filmed, and refused to answer questions about her conversations with Donald Trump regarding the Epstein investigation. A DOJ attorney sat beside her and intervened to block questions about the president. Democrats objected strenuously; Chairman James Comer (R-KY) blocked requests for oath and video recording.
- Bondi blamed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for Epstein file mishandling — During her testimony, Bondi deflected responsibility for the Justice Department's handling of Epstein files by attributing all critical decisions and failures to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. When questioned about redaction failures that exposed survivors' names while protecting Epstein's co-conspirators, and about Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a less secure prison facility, Bondi referred questions to Blanche and the Bureau of Prisons. The Democrats' Oversight account noted that under Bondi's tenure, one survivor's name appeared over 500 times in released documents while co-conspirators remained redacted.
- Attorney General Bondi testified on Epstein Files release compliance — Attorney General Pam Bondi testified behind closed doors before members of the House Oversight Committee regarding the Department of Justice's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi acknowledged "redaction errors" but stated the department had been "committed to accountability and transparency" since the process began. House Oversight Chair James Comer downgraded her appearance from a formal deposition to a transcribed interview, meaning she would not answer questions under oath and proceedings would not be videotaped. Bondi deflected responsibility to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in her opening statement.
May 27, 2026 Trump administration proposed sweeping nondisclosure agreement requirement for federal employees Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
A proposed rule would make it difficult for the public to learn what government officials are doing, expanding a tool historically used to shield the President from exposure.
Supporting reports
- Trump administration proposed federal employee nondisclosure agreement requirement — The Trump administration proposed sweeping language requiring federal employees to sign nondisclosure agreements. According to Don Moynihan's analysis, the new requirement would make it impossible for the American people to know what government officials are doing. The tool has been relied upon heavily by Trump to protect himself from potential exposure for wrongdoing.
May 27, 2026 Trump administration and Ron DeSantis concealed closure of a $1 billion detention facility from public disclosure Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
Officials reportedly avoided acknowledging the shutdown of a costly detention site to escape accountability for spending and documented rights abuses there.
Supporting reports
- Representative Maxwell Frost documented closure of "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility — Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) posted that he had visited "Alligator Alcatraz," a detention facility in Florida that appears to be in the process of shutting down. Frost noted that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump have not publicly acknowledged the closure despite spending approximately $1 billion in taxpayer funds on the site in less than one year. Frost stated that the administration does not want public discussion of the closure because it would require accountability for the expenditure and examination of "human rights abuses and civil rights abuses that happened there and in other facilities."
May 26, 2026 Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport denied entry to a New Jersey detention facility and later assumed state policing authority nearby Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
A state governor was blocked from inspecting a federal detention facility amid abuse allegations, then moved to reassert state authority over public safety at the site.
Supporting reports
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill denied entry to Delaney Hall — On Monday, May 26, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, was denied entry to Delaney Hall by facility management. Sherrill stated that the refusal raised "serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view." A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized Sherrill's visit as "nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility."
- New Jersey state police assume policing functions outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that state police will take over "public safety operations" from federal immigration officers outside Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention center in Newark. The state will establish a "peaceful protected zone" for demonstrators. The announcement coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents arriving to defend the facility and investigate protesters. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced DOJ charges against a protester accused of assaulting an ICE officer.