Besides Donald Trump, the person most exposed if the Epstein files are not released promptly is Attorney General Pam Bondi. She is facing two similar requests for information that differ in one key respect. The Epstein Files Transparency Act law was passed 427–1 in the House of Representatives and by unanimous consent in the Senate. Nobody, except Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana), wanted to be seen as protecting pedophiles with the eyes of the nation upon them.
There are key exceptions in the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi can redact or delay the release of documents if disclosure would jeopardize an ongoing federal investigation or prosecution. Files must be released “with maximum transparency,” but the law explicitly allows redactions to protect the identities of sex trafficking victims and survivors.
Any material deemed to pose a national security risk or involving classified intelligence can be withheld. Bondi may redact names or details of individuals who are innocent third parties or tangentially mentioned in investigative files. There are reports that Bondi and the DOJ have already been redacting names, especially Donald Trump's, which appear throughout the materials already released.
Internal DOJ communications, investigative techniques, or FBI methods may be withheld if disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations.
There are enough loopholes in the Epstein Files Transparency Act that Bondi could withhold information through the remainder of Trump’s term, simply by claiming one of the several exemptions. Yet, she has another problem in the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Its subpoenas in the Epstein investigation demanded that both the Justice Department and the Epstein estate produce “documents and communications in their possession, custody, or control in unredacted form” relevant to Epstein’s criminal activities, associates, and government handling of his cases. The exceptions found in the Epstein Files Transparency Act don’t appear in the Oversight Committee subpoenas, and committee members have promised they will not stop until they get all the requested information.
Bondi has appeared before Congress several times and has refused to answer questions, telling Democratic members of Congress which matters she won’t discuss. She did so knowing she was virtually untouchable and that Republican committee members would do nothing, and that the president had her back. Republicans see the public gives a damn this time and won’t let Bondi stand if she refuses to answer questions or produce evidence. The first time Bondi gets a tough question from a Republican will be her first time, and it will come as a slap in the face. Republicans won’t suddenly get infused with moral integrity. It will be the fear of looking like they’re protecting pedophiles that will motivate them.
Among the questions she has never answered is who authorized the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a less-secure facility where she has been granted extraordinary privileges. Part of Maxwell’s day includes playing with puppies. Bondi can tell us what 1,000 FBI agents were doing when they scoured the Epstein files and what was removed—questions she previously refused to answer.
The release of communications from Maxwell suggests she lied during her meeting with the assistant. Attorney General Todd Blanche said both Epstein and Trump did nothing wrong. Given that her statements weren’t truthful, why hasn’t she been sent back to her Florida prison in Tallahassee, where things weren’t as lovely? Should Bondi refuse to be forthcoming, an option exists that was unlikely to prevail previously. Pam Bondi could be impeached.
The U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 4 states: “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The Attorney General is considered a civil officer, so Bondi falls under this provision.
Like the two previous impeachments of Donald Trump, the House of Representatives can initiate impeachment, whose articles must be approved by a simple majority vote. The impeachment of a Trump official would have been unthinkable just weeks ago, but these are different times. Who wants to be seen protecting pedophiles? According to polling, two‑thirds of Americans across party lines think the government is hiding Epstein‑related information. Who among Republicans will choose to die on that hill?
The Bondi Trial would be held in the Senate, which requires a two-thirds majority to oust her. Again, this was unthinkable just days ago, but the same Senate that once considered resisting even bringing the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the floor for a vote passed the measure by unanimous consent. How times have changed.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.