Democrats Fume Over DOJ Surveillance of Lawmakers' Epstein Document Searches
Washington — A firestorm of controversy has erupted on Capitol Hill following revelations that the Justice Department has been closely tracking lawmakers' searches of the sensitive Jeffrey Epstein files. Democratic representatives are expressing intense anger, with some demanding the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi and others advocating for a complete overhaul of the system governing how legislators access these critical documents.
"We're in the Middle of a Cover-Up"
Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, did not mince words when speaking to reporters. "We're in the middle of a cover-up, and so we have to use the extremely embarrassing fact that they've been spying on us to come up with a completely different system for us to review these documents," Raskin stated emphatically.
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, a prominent defender of President Donald Trump, expressed concern about the Justice Department's actions. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Johnson indicated he was investigating the matter and suggested the department had crossed an important line. "That would obviously be an important line that's crossed, and obviously we can't allow for that," Johnson declared.
The Satellite Office Setup
The controversy centers around a satellite office established by the Justice Department this week where lawmakers could review material excluded from public disclosure. This exclusion was mandated by a law passed last year requiring the department to create a searchable public database of Epstein files while protecting victim privacy.
The office contained four computers, with department officials logging lawmakers in and remaining present during their browsing sessions. However, the Justice Department failed to inform legislators that their viewing and search behavior would be meticulously tracked. This monitoring only came to light when news photographers captured Bondi examining a document titled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
The "Burn Book" Binder
Attorney General Pam Bondi brought a binder to her testimony that Representative Raskin derisively labeled a "burn book." This binder appeared to contain specific insults targeting Democratic committee members alongside lists detailing which Epstein files lawmakers had examined.
For Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, the binder revealed she had searched files with disturbing titles including "thank you for a fun night - your littlest girl was a little naughty" and "new Brazilian just arrived, sexy and cut, 19yo." Jayapal confirmed on Thursday that Bondi's document accurately reflected her search history.
Calls for Resignation and Systemic Change
Jayapal delivered a scathing assessment of Bondi's performance, stating the attorney general is "not fit to remain attorney general" following what she called a "horrific" display. "She is supposed to be the people's attorney general, the people's lawyer, but she had an audience of one yesterday," Jayapal asserted. "His name was Donald Trump. She is still acting like the personal attorney for Donald Trump, and coming in and simply insulting members of Congress."
Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, echoed calls for Bondi's resignation and suggested she should be held in contempt of Congress. "We knew already that the DOJ is incredibly corrupt, and the spying on what we're searching for, I think the question has to be asked: Can we trust anything that the DOJ is actually doing?" Garcia questioned.
Background and Broader Implications
The controversy unfolds against a complex backdrop. Congress passed legislation last fall requiring the Justice Department to create a searchable public database of Epstein files while protecting victim privacy. However, the department has withheld millions of documents, drawing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who argue this violates the law.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing charges for sex trafficking minors. His past social relationship with President Donald Trump—which reportedly ended in the early 2000s—has fueled skepticism about whether the administration will permit full transparency regarding the files.
Searching for "Trump" on the DOJ's Epstein Library page yielded more than 4,700 results on Thursday. According to Raskin, on the private server where lawmakers can view unredacted material, the president's name appears in over a million files. Lawmakers have also discovered that some publicly available files have been improperly redacted.
In addition to the congressional legislation mandating Epstein disclosures, the House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for the material, further escalating tensions between the legislative and executive branches.
Bondi's history as Trump's personal attorney during his first impeachment trial in 2020—centered on allegations he pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden—adds another layer to the current controversy. Jayapal revealed she had spoken with Speaker Johnson, who served alongside Bondi on Trump's impeachment defense team, though she declined to share details of their conversation.
The unfolding scandal raises fundamental questions about government transparency, congressional oversight, and the appropriate boundaries between the Justice Department and the legislators tasked with holding it accountable.
