Representative Ro Khanna said Monday that some Republicans are open to taking action against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The dispute centers on the Department of Justice failing to release all required files related to Jeffrey Epstein by a deadline set by Congress.
Khanna said the effort could be led by Thomas Massie, a Republican. Speaking on Morning Joe, Khanna said there are a few Republicans who support moving forward. He stressed that impeachment would not come first. Instead, lawmakers would initially seek to hold Bondi in contempt of Congress.
Why This Matters
Democrats have frequently talked about impeaching officials in President Donald Trump’s administration. Those efforts have rarely advanced in a House controlled by Republicans.
Any Republican backing would mark a shift. Even so, it is not clear whether a bipartisan effort could succeed. Both Khanna and Massie say their immediate goal is contempt of Congress, not impeachment.
Dispute Over the Epstein Files
The controversy stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed the House and Senate in November with strong bipartisan support. The law required the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files within 30 days, allowing only limited redactions.
When the deadline passed on Friday, the DOJ did not release all of the files. Many of the documents that were made public were heavily redacted. Khanna and Massie, who sponsored the bill, sharply criticized the department over the weekend. Other lawmakers and commentators also raised concerns.
Bipartisan Pressure, Not Immediate Impeachment
Khanna said on Morning Joe that this effort differs from past attempts because it includes Republicans.
“If it was just Democrats pushing this, it would be seen as a partisan move,” he said. “This is going to be Thomas Massie leading it.”
Khanna added that lawmakers would first pursue contempt of Congress. Under that approach, Bondi would be given a 30-day grace period to release the remaining documents. He said the department is already in violation of the law.
Contempt of Congress Explained
On Sunday, Khanna and Massie appeared together on Face the Nation. They said they plan to seek inherent contempt of Congress, a rarely used power that could result in daily fines.
“We only need the House for inherent contempt, and we’re building a bipartisan coalition,” Khanna said. He added that Bondi could be fined for each day the documents are not released.
Massie said contempt is the fastest way to push the department to act and to bring justice for Epstein’s victims.
Responses From the Justice Department
Bondi said Sunday that the Justice Department remains committed to investigating anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Epstein’s victims. She urged victims to come forward and said the department has already met with several victims and advocacy groups.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday that the DOJ has released materials under the transparency law and will continue to produce additional documents as its review continues, while protecting victims.
Impeachment Still on the Table
In a podcast interview aired Monday, Khanna said he and Massie are drafting articles of impeachment against Bondi and Blanche. He said they are not ready to introduce them yet but want to be prepared if the DOJ continues to delay.
What Comes Next
The Justice Department is expected to release more Epstein-related files in the coming days. Political pressure is likely to continue as lawmakers debate next steps.
It remains unclear whether the House will approve a contempt resolution or whether the effort will eventually move toward impeachment.
