Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein raise their hands after U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) asked who of them has been unable to meet with the U.S. Department of Justice led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as Bondi attends a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department to testify, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2026. / REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

Indian American lawmakers on April 2 reacted to the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, with several tying her ouster to mounting backlash over the Justice Department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Ro Khanna said Bondi’s removal was directly tied to what he called an “Epstein files cover up” and argued that her successor must fully release the remaining records.

Also Read: Trump says he fired Bondi, appoints Blanche as acting US attorney general

“The Epstein files cover up took down Bondi,” Khanna wrote on X. “@RepThomasMassie & I have been calling for accountability since she violated our Epstein Transparency Act. Congress does not need to be a doormat. The Senate must fight to make sure Bondi is not replaced with another lawless sycophant.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi was just fired for the Epstein files coverup. The new AG must release all the files & prosecute the abusers. pic.twitter.com/gVMPwBJ9fc

— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) April 2, 2026

In a separate post, Khanna added, “Attorney General Pam Bondi was just fired for the Epstein files coverup. The new AG must release all the files & prosecute the abusers.”

Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie had earlier led efforts around the Epstein Files Transparency Act and in January called for a special master to compel the Department of Justice to release the full files, making Khanna one of the most visible congressional voices pressing the issue before Bondi’s dismissal.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said he had already called for Bondi’s impeachment and renewed demands for transparency.

“I called for Pam Bondi’s impeachment because she repeatedly violated the law for the President, but even that didn’t pass his loyalty test,” Subramanyam wrote on X. “It’s time to release the Epstein files and end the cover-ups.”

I called for Pam Bondi's impeachment because she repeatedly violated the law for the President, but even that didn't pass his loyalty test.

It's time to release the Epstein files and end the cover-ups.

— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) (@RepSuhas) April 2, 2026

Rep. Shri Thanedar said Bondi’s firing was not sufficient and called for broader accountability.

“Being fired isn’t enough. Bondi and the rest of this administration must be held accountable for their crimes,” Thanedar wrote on X.

Being fired isn’t enough. Bondi and the rest of this administration must be held accountable for their crimes. pic.twitter.com/Z4YZorern5

— Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) April 2, 2026

Thanedar had already moved formally against Bondi last month, introducing articles of impeachment that accused her of obstruction of Congress, dereliction of duty, obstruction of justice, and weaponization of the Department of Justice.

In a longer statement posted after Bondi’s dismissal, Thanedar said Bondi “will go down in history as the Attorney General who protected pedophiles and weaponized the DOJ instead of fighting for justice.”

He said she “should’ve been removed months ago” and added that being ousted “does not erase that record.” Thanedar also used the moment to call for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be removed, saying he “should be the next to go.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal also welcomed Bondi’s departure and referenced a heated congressional exchange over Epstein survivors.

“AG Bondi called apologizing to the Epstein survivors getting into the ‘gutter.’ Good riddance,” Jayapal wrote on X.

AG Bondi called apologizing to the Epstein survivors getting into the “gutter." Good riddance. pic.twitter.com/TfbBrgFmG2

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 2, 2026

Jayapal’s remark referred to a February hearing in which she pressed Bondi to turn toward Epstein survivors seated behind her and apologize for the department’s handling of the files. Bondi refused and said she would not “get in the gutter,” a moment that drew wide attention and became a flashpoint in Democratic criticism of her tenure.

At the same hearing, Jayapal accused Bondi of presiding over “a massive cover-up” and said Trump had made release of the Epstein files “the center of his political campaign” before the administration later failed to follow through.

President Donald Trump removed Bondi from the post and named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. Her dismissal came amid growing scrutiny over the Justice Department’s release and handling of Epstein-related records in recent weeks.

Discover more at New India Abroad.