On Sunday’s broadcast of CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑KY) announced that the House of Representatives is advancing a move to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt of Congress over what he called an inadequate and partial release of Jeffrey Epstein‑related files. Massie strongly criticized the Department of Justice’s handling of the documents and said lawmakers will not be satisfied until survivors and the public see a full accounting of the evidence.
“They’re flouting the spirit and the letter of the law,” Massie said during his interview. He expressed deep concern that the released material failed to mention other potential suspects, criminal accomplices, and key witnesses previously provided to the FBI by victims. “You know, I said in the hours leading up to this release that we will know if they are complying, if they implicate any of the other criminals that are involved (…) and they’ve never been mentioned,” Massie stated.
Host Margaret Brennan pressed Massie on what actions Congress could take to force compliance if the Department of Justice continues to withhold full information. Massie made clear that there are concrete steps lawmakers can pursue.
“Oh, absolutely,” he responded. Massie attributed responsibility not just to the DOJ broadly but specifically to Attorney General Bondi’s office, saying the House is preparing multiple avenues to compel full disclosure. “Todd Blanch is the face of this, but it’s really the attorney general’s office… It’s Pam Bondi who is responsible,” he insisted.
Massie explained that inherent contempt is one of the most direct mechanisms available to Congress because it does not require involving the courts, which can slow the process. He noted that lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna and others, are actively drafting the language to initiate inherent contempt proceedings against Bondi.
According to Massie, the goal is to expedite justice for Epstein survivors and ensure that all relevant information — including evidence regarding individuals connected to Epstein’s network — is fully disclosed and examined by Congress. His remarks signal escalating tension between Capitol Hill and the Department of Justice over accountability and transparency in one of the nation’s most closely watched legal matters.
