Tensions Erupt as Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls for Arrest of AG Pam Bondi Amid Epstein File Controversy
In a dramatic escalation of the political battle surrounding the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Attorney General Pam Bondi. The congresswoman’s demand comes amid growing evidence that documents have been removed from the DOJ’s public database and widespread accusations that the department is ignoring the pleas of Epstein’s victims .
### The Disappearing Files
The controversy centers on the Department of Justice’s implementation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38), which mandated the release of all unclassified records related to the disgraced financier’s investigation and prosecution . While the DOJ initially released over 3 million pages of documents on January 30th, critics charge that the public window into Epstein’s world is quickly closing.
Data analysis of the DOJ’s online database reveals a staggering reduction in search results for key terms. Searches for “Donald Trump” allegedly plummeted from 5,361 mentions on January 30th to just 1,474 by early February . Specific files, including the widely discussed document ‘EFTA01660683’, which was rumored to contain sensitive information regarding the President, have reportedly vanished from the site .
While the DOJ attributes the missing documents to routine practices such as removing duplicates, withholding privileged materials, and redacting violent imagery, the explanation has done little to quell suspicions . Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) has formally demanded that Attorney General Bondi provide a full accounting of every document removed, the rationale for its removal, and its current status . “The DOJ released these files, then quietly pulled some of them down without explanation. We want to know why,” Mace stated .
### Omar’s Accusation
Against this backdrop of missing data and heated hearings, Rep. Omar has leveled the most serious charge yet against the Attorney General. Citing the disappearance of files—including a specific image of Donald Trump that was briefly available—Omar accused Bondi of actively abetting a cover-up.
“The leader of the Pedophile Protection Party is trying to deflect attention from his name being all over the Epstein files,” Omar posted on X, directly referencing the President. “But we see what is happening. Pam Bondi is removing evidence in real-time to protect the powerful” .
Omar’s central argument hinges on the duty of the Attorney General to protect the victims of crime. She pointed to testimony during Bondi’s recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, where Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) asked 11 Epstein survivors present in the room to stand if they had not been able to meet with the Justice Department. All 11 stood .
When Jayapal urged Bondi to “turn to them now and apologize,” Bondi refused, dismissing the request as “theatrics” . For Omar, this refusal—combined with the removal of public records—crosses a line. “Ignoring the pleas of victims while destroying evidence is not just political malpractice; it is criminal abetment,” Omar stated. “Bondi must be arrested and prosecuted immediately.”
### A Heated Political Environment
The call for prosecution has intensified an already volatile political atmosphere. The hearing in which Bondi clashed with Democrats was marked by shouting matches. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) famously yelled “QUIET!” at the Attorney General during an exchange about improper redactions, while Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) accused Bondi of leading a “massive Epstein cover-up” .
Republicans have vehemently defended Bondi and turned the spotlight back on Omar. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) suggested Omar should “keep her mouth shut,” pointing to ongoing investigations into the congresswoman’s personal finances . Trump himself has targeted Omar, stating that the DOJ and Congress are examining her wealth .
### The Scope of the Release
The DOJ maintains it has acted in full compliance with the law. On February 14, Attorney General Bondi sent a letter to lawmakers asserting that the department had released “all records, documents, communications and investigative materials” concerning Epstein, as required by the act .
However, a new investigation by Channel 4 News has cast doubt on this claim. Internal emails seen by journalists suggest federal investigators expected to process between 20 and 50 terabytes of data seized from Epstein’s properties. The total data released in the most recent tranche amounts to just over 300 gigabytes—which the report suggests accounts for as little as 2% of the materials gathered by federal agents .
### Looking Ahead
As the data discrepancy grows and the political rhetoric sharpens, the demand for accountability is coming from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Mace’s letter represents a bipartisan desire for transparency, while Democrats like Omar are pushing for criminal consequences.
The Attorney General’s office has not yet responded to Rep. Omar’s specific call for arrest. With the White House backing Bondi and accusing Democrats of political theater, the likelihood of prosecution remains low. However, as more data emerges regarding the true size of the Epstein cache, the pressure on the DOJ to prove it has not hidden files to protect the powerful will only intensify .
For the 11 survivors who stood in that hearing room, waiting for an apology that never came, the legal battles over what was released—and what was removed—are far from over.
