During a conversation on Morning Joe, California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna indicated that there is a possibility some Republicans might support the impeachment of Attorney General Pam Bondi. This comes in light of the Department of Justice’s struggle to meet the deadline for releasing all files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna mentioned Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, as a likely frontrunner in this endeavor, expressing that the momentum could build from cross-party collaboration. Despite suggesting a burgeoning Republican backing, he pointed out that the initial step would focus on holding Bondi in contempt of Congress before making any moves toward impeachment.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for their take on this situation on Monday.
Importance of the Situation
This discussion marks a noteworthy shift, given that Democrats traditionally threaten impeachment against members of Donald Trump’s administration without much success in the Republican-controlled House. The GOP’s involvement suggests a significant change, yet it’s still uncertain whether any of these initiatives will materialize as effective actions. Furthermore, Khanna and Massie have already made it clear that their primary focus if they proceed will be pursuing contempt charges against Bondi.
Key Takeaways
Both Pam Bondi and the Trump administration have faced ample bipartisan criticism for how they managed the release of the Epstein files. After a bipartisan push in November where the House and Senate approved the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming agreement, the DOJ was bound to deliver the files within 30 days—with minimal redactions.
Unfortunately, as the deadline passed on Friday, the DOJ did not fulfill this obligation, and many of the provided documents were extensively redacted. Khanna and Massie, who championed the legislation, consistently criticized the DOJ over the weekend, alongside many political figures and commentators.
On Morning Joe Monday, Khanna emphasized that the bipartisan nature of the support for Bondi’s impeachment could mark a departure from previous situations where only Democrats were involved.
“It’s different this time because Republicans are also on board. If it were just my initiative or that of [Democratic Congressman] Robert Garcia, it would have appeared to be purely a Democratic matter. Thomas Massie will be leading this movement,” Khanna explained.
Clearly stating the approach, Khanna noted, “We aren’t jumping straight into impeachment. Instead, we will begin with the contempt route.” This tactic would give Bondi an immediate 30-day grace period to comply with the existing law regarding document disclosure.
During a joint appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation Sunday, Khanna and Massie revealed plans to push for holding Bondi in contempt of Congress, potentially leading to daily fines until the files are properly released.
Massie added, “I believe that moving toward inherent contempt is the quickest and most direct route to justice for the victims involved.”
Public Reactions
Pam Bondi on X last Sunday: “The Department of Justice previously said we will charge anyone connected to the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. We reiterate this commitment and invite victims to come forward with any information on individuals involved in these heinous activities. We’ve had productive meetings with several victims and victims’ groups and encourage others to reach out for us to investigate promptly. Justice will be served evenly across the board in this country.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on X last Friday: “Today, the Justice Department publicly released Maui content related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Additional materials will be shared as our review continues with due consideration for the law and victims’ protections.”
Congressman Ro Khanna on a recent podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen: “Massie and I are actively drafting articles of impeachment for both Pam Bondi and Blanche. We’re not planning to back down just because they signal they’ll continue releasing material throughout the year; we’re prepared to act when necessary.”
The Road Ahead
As the DOJ prepares to unveil additional files shortly, the relevant backlash is expected to escalate. The success of Massie’s and Khanna’s contempt motion is yet uncertain, as is whether they’ll eventually opt for impeachment.
Update, 12/22/25 at 3:47 p.m. ET: Ro Khanna’s additional comments have been appended.
