GOP Frustration Grows Over Bondi’s Epstein Statements and DOJ Errors in Comey Case

Senate Republicans have increasingly criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for mixed messages about thousands of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein and for what some lawmakers describe as sloppy handling of high-profile prosecutions, including the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

Republican senators say the Justice Department under Bondi has become a recurring source of controversy and distraction. Their central complaint centers on Bondi’s February remark in a Fox News interview that a purported Epstein "client list" was “sitting right now on my desk to review,” followed by a July unsigned DOJ/FBI memo stating investigators had found “no incriminating ‘client list’” and no evidence to justify new probes of uncharged third parties. That inconsistency, critics say, fueled public skepticism and helped push Congress to pass legislation requiring release of unclassified Epstein-related records within 30 days of enactment.

Bondi’s office has maintained she was referring broadly to a stack of Epstein-related files rather than a discrete "client list," and supporters note the Justice Department released a batch of documents on Feb. 27, including flight logs, a redacted contacts book and a redacted masseuse list. Still, several GOP senators argue the mixed messaging was an “unforced error” that unnecessarily elevated the issue.

Concerns About Independence and Timing

Critics also pointed to Bondi’s Nov. 14 announcement that she would assign U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to review ties between Epstein and figures including former President Bill Clinton and other Democrats. That announcement came hours after President Trump posted on Truth Social urging investigations into Clinton and other individuals — timing that renewed questions about the department’s independence.

“We count on the Justice Department to be solid, and it just doesn’t seem to be solid right now,” one Republican senator said, adding concerns that the department appears more politicized and reactive than authoritative under current leadership.

Procedural Problems in the Comey Indictment

The Comey prosecution intensified those concerns. After what began as a private-direction post by the president that was mistakenly made public, the department indicted Comey on charges including making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. A magistrate judge, William Fitzpatrick, warned the prosecution could be in jeopardy due to potential errors by U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in her presentation to the grand jury and ordered disclosure of grand-jury materials. Another judge, Michael Nachmanoff, pressed prosecutors about whether the grand jury saw the final version of the indictment.

Halligan initially acknowledged a second version of the indictment was presented only to the grand-jury foreperson before submission to a judge. Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb called the allegations “shocking,” suggesting Bondi and Halligan should face professional consequences; the Justice Department later filed a supplemental court filing to “correct the record” and defend the indictment’s approval process.

Lawmakers Push for Clearer Messaging and Stronger Oversight

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged the Justice Department to “tighten up” its messaging and execution, warning that ambiguous communication or delayed compliance with the new Epstein-files law would prolong public distrust and keep the matter in the news cycle. Other GOP senators privately questioned whether problems stem from Bondi herself, her staff, or inconsistent directions from the president.

As the Justice Department prepares to comply with the new disclosure law and respond to the judicial scrutiny in the Comey case, Republican lawmakers say restoring consistency, clear communication and procedural rigor is essential to preserving the department’s credibility.