Nancy Mace Demands AG Pam Bondi Testify Before Oversight Committee Amid DOJ “Spying” Allegations
Republican Representative Nancy Mace has formally called for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before the House Oversight Committee following explosive allegations that the Department of Justice is monitoring the digital activities of members of Congress. The demand comes amid a bipartisan furor sparked by revelations that the DOJ may be tracking lawmakers’ search histories as they review unredacted files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
“We want answers now about why the DOJ was spying on members of Congress,” Mace stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The South Carolina congresswoman, who serves on the Oversight Committee, described the alleged surveillance as “creepy” and a potential violation of the separation of powers.
The controversy erupted earlier this week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing when a press photographer captured an image of a document sitting on Attorney General Bondi’s desk. The paper, clearly visible in the photograph, was titled “Jayapal Pramila Search History” and appeared to list specific files and search terms used by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal while she was reviewing DOJ-provided documents.
Mace corroborated the concerns raised by her Democratic colleagues, asserting that she has personal knowledge of the tracking system. “I’m pretty tech-savvy. I’ve played around with the system. They’re tracking every file that we open, and when we open it. They’re tracking everything,” Mace told reporters. She further alleged that the Department of Justice assigns individual logins to lawmakers, tagging every document they access with their name and creating a permanent log of their investigative steps.
The allegations have triggered a rare moment of unity between progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans, both of whom are expressing alarm over the implications of the Executive Branch monitoring the Legislative Branch’s oversight activities. “It is totally inappropriate and against the separation of powers for the DOJ to surveil us,” Rep. Jayapal said in a statement, calling the Attorney General’s possession of her search history a “burn book” intended for intimidation.
Critics argue that if the Justice Department is indeed logging the specific queries and reading habits of congressional investigators, it could undermine the independence of Congress and intimidate members charged with holding federal agencies accountable. The Department of Justice has not yet issued a formal denial or explanation regarding the specific document photographed in Bondi’s possession, though officials have previously stated that secure systems are monitored for security purposes.
Mace’s call for testimony seeks to force Bondi to explain the scope of this monitoring, who authorized it, and whether the data collected is being used to leverage political pressure against lawmakers. As of Friday afternoon, the House Oversight Committee leadership has not yet announced a scheduled date for the Attorney General’s appearance, but pressure is mounting from members on both sides of the aisle for an immediate inquiry.
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