GEOFF BENNETT: Former Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation today during a closed-door interview with lawmakers.

Over nearly four hours of questioning before the House Oversight Committee, Bondi said the department, under her leadership, was committed to securing justice for Epstein's victims.

She declined to answer questions about President Trump.

Bondi also acknowledged mistakes in the release of investigative records, saying -- quote - - "There were redaction errors.

But since day one of this process, this department has been committed to accountability and transparency."

Some survivors of Epstein's abuse waited outside of the interview room today and called for Bondi to take accountability.

DANI BENSKY, Jeffrey Epstein Survivor: I just hope that she does have a moment where she remembers her own humanity and our humanity and finds her compassion and remembers that this is a bigger story than political rhetoric.

GEOFF BENNETT: For more on the Epstein investigations, we're joined now by our justice correspondent, Ali Rogin.

Ali, it's good to see you.

So what more do you know about Bondi's appearance today?

ALI ROGIN: This interview today, Geoff, was neither a sworn deposition, nor was it videotaped.

We will eventually get a transcript, but, today, the top Democrat on the committee said that it was a shame and disservice to the American people that it wasn't recorded or oath, as -- as previous depositions have been.

Bondi was also represented today by DOJ attorneys, including the head of the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, which Democrats said was unusual, given that she is no longer employed by the Department of Justice.

And, Geoff, the only Republican present today was the committee's chairman, James Comer, who took some questions before the interviews began, including from some survivors.

REP.

JAMES COMER (R-KY): The one thing that we can say with confidence thus far is, the survivors were failed by the government.

And I hope that we can do the best that we can do in getting answers and getting the truth to the American people.

GEOFF BENNETT: So what did Bondi say?

ALI ROGIN: Not much, according to Democrats in the room.

She answered many questions by saying she did not know or did not recall.

She deferred many questions to Todd Blanche, saying that he handled the documents, including all the mistakes of failing to redact some of the survivors' names and images.

In her opening statement, she said she -- quote - - "delegated oversight over this process" to Blanche.

She also refused to comment on her conversations with President Trump.

GEOFF BENNETT: And Blanche, now the acting attorney general, who used to be President Trump's personal attorney.

ALI ROGIN: That's right, Geoff.

And he's been very involved in this investigation.

He met with co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in 2025, after which she was transferred to a minimum security prison.

Bondi said she was unaware that that meeting was happening.

And as acting attorney general, Blanche has said that he said the Epstein files -- quote -- "should not be a part of anything going forward at the DOJ."

Whatever his role was, Blanche is now the head of the department and Democrats said they will subpoena him to testify.

For their part, survivors say that the most important thing for them is that the DOJ follow through on some of the investigative leads that are revealed and some of the names that have been released in the Epstein files.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, as we have reported on this program, President Trump's own relationship with Epstein has come under scrutiny.

The president has gone after media outlets, news organizations that have chosen to report on it.

So what's the latest on that front?

So, earlier this week, President Trump refiled a defamation lawsuit that he had filed against The Wall Street Journal over a report that he had written a letter to Epstein for his birthday in 2003 which featured an illustration of a naked woman silhouette.

Trump denied he wrote the letter or drew the picture.

And he sued The Journal for defamation.

The judge threw out the case, saying he had not proved that the reporters deliberately reported false information.

He said Trump could file a new complaint.

We have seen that today.

He -- there's not very much new in this new complaint, except there's an anecdote that he spoke with Rupert Murdoch, the chairman, before this article was released.

Murdoch said he would handle it.

We don't know how this judge is going to respond to this, and The Wall Street Journal stands by its reporting, Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: On a separate matter, Ali, the Justice Department is pursuing investigations targeting Mr.

Trump's perceived enemies.

There's now a new development, in that the DOJ is reportedly focused on a private citizen, in this case, E. Jean Carroll.

Bring us up to speed.

ALI ROGIN: That's right.

Carroll was the author whom Trump was found liable for sexually abusing in 2023.

There was reporting earlier this week that the U.S.

attorney in Chicago was investigating Carroll.

That attorney denied that was the case.

Instead, today, several outlets are reporting that the investigation actually focuses on LinkedIn founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, whose nonprofit did pay for some of E. Jean Carroll's legal fees.

We should also mention Hoffman had what he calls a fund-raising relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, although this investigation does not seem to have anything to do with Epstein.

Hoffman posted on social media today, saying that Trump is -- quote -- "investigating me because I supported E. Jean's lawsuit" and that the president -- quote -- "hopes that these fraudulent investigations will silence those who stand up to him.

He is wrong.

I will not bend the knee" -- Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: All right, Ali Rogin, our thanks to you.

ALI ROGIN: You bet.