US Attorney General Pam Bondi calls the publication of the Epstein victim names an “oversight.”Image: keystone
Feb 11, 2026, 7:57 p.mFeb 11, 2026, 7:57 p.m
US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended her much-criticized handling of the Epstein files before a congressional committee, but also admitted mistakes. She admitted in a heated hearing in the House of Representatives that some of the names of victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were “accidentally” published. These were blacked out “immediately” following appropriate information.
In mid-December, her ministry began publishing investigative files from the Epstein case. Shortly afterwards, more than a dozen files surprisingly disappeared again. Bondi’s deputy, Todd Blanche, said at the time that the sudden deletion came at the request of those affected. The removed photos showed potential victims who had not previously been identified as such, it said.
“Many had kept their torment a secret, even from family and friends.”
Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin
The US multimillionaire Epstein had run an abuse ring for years, to which many young women and minors fell victim.
Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin criticized the failure to redact the names of victims while redacting the names of perpetrators and accomplices. Some of the victims spoke publicly about the abuse, but many did not. “Many had kept their torment secret, even from family and friends” – but the Justice Department still shared their names and identities with the world, criticized Raskin. (sda/dpa)