Exclusive: Dems plot tougher oversight of Trump's Justice Department

• A small group of Senate Judiciary Democrats — including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) — huddled Tuesday to strategize, sources told Axios.
• The party's clashes with the DOJ are only growing, including the Epstein files, the prosecution of President Trump's political foes and alleged corruption by top administration officials.
• At a hearing this month, Bondi refused to answer senators' questions about investigations into former FBI Director James Comey and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The big picture: Some Democrats are paying attention to the tactics of other Democratic leaders across the country in dealing with the Trump DOJ, one of the sources said.

• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's formation of a commission to track the actions of federal law enforcement in the state has caught the attention of some Democrats on Capitol Hill.
• Pritzker's move was in response to the surge of warrantless arrests and the use of tear gas and rubber bullets on non-violent protestors.

Between the lines: Bondi has also deflected questions about bribery allegations against Trump's border czar Tom Homan (who called the reports bullsh*t) and the investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James.

• Senate Democrats have publicly complained in recent months about what they say is the DOJ's refusal to answer their requests for investigations into issues like the threats against federal judges.
• Schiff's office declined to comment on this story. Representatives for Whitehouse and Blumenthal could not be reached for comment.