Home Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal accused Lawyer Common Pam Bondi of “spying” on her search historical past when the congresswoman visited the Division of Justice earlier this week to view unredacted Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata.
“It’s completely inappropriate and in opposition to the separations of powers for the DOJ to surveil us as we search the Epstein recordsdata,” Jayapal stated in a post on X. “Bondi confirmed up at present with a burn ebook that held a printed search historical past of precisely what emails I searched. That’s outrageous and I intend to pursue this and cease this spying on members.”
Pictures from a House Judiciary Committee hearing at which Bondi appeared on Wednesday present printouts she referenced have been titled: “Jayapal Pramila Search Historical past.”
U.S. Lawyer Common Pam Bondi holds a chunk of paper labelled “Jayapal Pramila Search Historical past”, in reference to U.S. Consultant Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), a member of the Home Judiciary Committee, through the committee’s listening to on oversight of the Justice Division, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2026.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
A diagram on the web page exhibits a number of paperwork from the DOJ’s Epstein recordsdata that Jayapal searched. File numbers and temporary descriptions of the contents are proven, in line with photographs taken of Bondi’s doc.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the rating Democrat on the committee, stated in an announcement that he plans to ask the DOJ’s inspector normal to launch an inquiry into whether or not the DOJ monitored lawmakers’ search historical past whereas reviewing the Epstein recordsdata.
“It’s an outrage that DOJ is monitoring Members’ investigative steps undertaken to make sure that DOJ is complying with the Epstein File Transparency Act and utilizing this info for the Lawyer Common’s embarrassing polemical functions. DOJ should instantly stop monitoring any Members’ searches,” Raskin stated.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 11: U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) questions U.S. Lawyer Common Pam Bondi earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on February 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. Bondi is anticipated to face questions on her departmentâs dealing with of the recordsdata associated to the convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trumpâs investigations into political foes and the handing of the 2 deadly ICE shootings of U.S. residents.
Alex Wong/Getty Pictures
On the outset of Wednesday’s listening to, Raskin used his opening assertion to sentence Bondi’s use of a so-called “burn ebook” to organize assaults in opposition to Democratic members.
“We noticed your efficiency within the Senate and we’re not going to just accept that,” Raskin warned. “This is not a recreation. Within the Senate you introduced one thing with you known as a burn ebook, a binder of smears to assault members personally for doing the individuals’s work of oversight. Please, set the burn ebook apart and reply questions.”
These feedback got here as Raskin opened Wednesday’s combative listening to, the place Bondi sparred with lawmakers, traded insults with them and at instances refused to reply their questions.
Lawyer Common Pam Bondi testifies earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee, February 11, 2026 in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Pictures
The Division of Justice didn’t instantly reply to ABC’s request for remark.
Since Monday, lawmakers have been allowed to go to the DOJ to view unredacted Epstein files — which has prompted fierce backlash from lawmakers crucial of redactions that have been maintained by the Division in defiance of the Epstein Transparency Act, which solely allowed redactions to guard victims and their personally identifiable knowledge and knowledge.
One other lawmaker who visited the safe facility on the Division of Justice to view the unredacted paperwork, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, of South Carolina, stated she believed the division was monitoring her as she carried out her assessment on Wednesday.
“Sure. I’ll verify. DOJ is monitoring the Epstein paperwork Members of Congress seek for, open, and assessment,” Mace posted on X. “I used to be in a position to navigate the system at present and I will not disclose how or the character of how; however confirmed the DOJ is TAGGING ALL DOCUMENTS Members of Congress search, open and assessment. Primarily based on how I confirmed this, there are timestamps related to this monitoring.”
