Rep. Massie says he doesn't have confidence in Bondi as attorney general
Khanna joined Massie in challenging the department’s redactions and called for greater transparency about the released records.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYABC News is an established national newsroom with identifiable authors and editorial standards. The article attributes claims to named participants and includes a document obtained by the outlet, though much of the account centers on lawmakers’ descriptions of the dispute.
- Source type — Established national news organization.
- Editorial standards — The outlet has recognizable institutional reporting and editorial practices.
- Author attribution — A named reporter is credited, with additional contributors identified.
- Transparency — The story attributes key claims and identifies the report it obtained.
The report uses direct quotations, identifies a document obtained by ABC News, and includes responses from Blanche and the Justice Department’s written report. The account nevertheless relies heavily on Massie and Khanna’s claims and gives limited direct explanation from Bondi or the department.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents detailed criticism from Massie and Khanna and includes Blanche’s rebuttal and the department’s written explanation. It does not provide a direct interview or extended response from Bondi, leaving the department’s perspective less developed.
- Counterarguments presented — Blanche’s accusation and the department’s report are included as responses.
- Source diversity — The story quotes members of Congress and cites a government report, but the critical lawmakers dominate.
- Omitted context — Bondi’s direct explanation of her conduct and the redactions is not developed.
- Loaded language — Strong characterizations appear mainly as attributed quotations rather than the reporter’s own language.
The article reports the dispute in largely neutral language, attributing criticism and defenses to the people who made them. Its selection of sources gives substantial space to Massie and Khanna, while also including Blanche’s response and the Justice Department’s report.
- Language tone — Mostly factual and attributed, with evaluative terms presented as quotations.
- Source selection — Massie and Khanna receive extensive space; Blanche and a Justice Department report provide a counterpoint.
- Framing — The framing centers on a reported dispute over the hearing and file redactions.
- Headline — The headline accurately describes Massie’s stated lack of confidence.
Rep. Thomas Massie said he lacks confidence in Attorney General Pam Bondi, criticizing her conduct at a hearing and the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files. Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna also questioned the department’s redactions, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the release process.
Massie told ABC News he did not think Bondi performed well at a House Judiciary Committee hearing and said he lacked confidence in her. He criticized her response to questions about Epstein-related records and described her refusal to look toward survivors at the hearing as “cold.” The Justice Department had released more than three million pages of files, and Massie said the department had exposed victims’ identities while over-redacting other information.
Massie and Khanna said the department had removed redactions from a document after they raised concerns, but Khanna said the department had not provided adequate context. Blanche said Massie and Khanna had caused the release of names from an FBI lineup, and Massie replied that he had warned the names might belong to people in a lineup. Bondi and Blanche later sent lawmakers a report explaining the redactions; Massie said he remained unsatisfied.
Community verdict
22 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Representative who worked with Massie to seek the release of Epstein-related files and criticized the Justice Department’s redactions
Representative who criticized Bondi’s hearing performance and the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files
Massie's version of this story ↗Attorney General whose conduct at a House hearing and the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files were criticized
Bondi's version of this story ↗Deputy Attorney General who defended the handling of names and redactions
Former attorney general mentioned in Massie’s comparison of the two attorneys general’s hearing appearances
Representative who asked survivors at the hearing to indicate whether they had been unable to meet with the Justice Department
President, referenced in connection with Bondi’s use of the phrase “Trump derangement syndrome” and the list of people mentioned in the files
Former president mentioned as the president who appointed Merrick Garland attorney general
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