Pam Bondi trades insults with lawmakers in 5-hour Epstein hearing
Attorney General Pam Bondi confronted sharp bipartisan criticism Wednesday over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The five-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing devolved into repeated shouting matches as Bondi rejected demands for direct answers and declined to apologize for redaction failures that exposed victims’ names.
Democrats centered their questioning on the department’s release of Epstein-related documents, including acknowledged mistakes that revealed identifying information belonging to survivors. Bondi opened by telling victims in the room she was “deeply sorry” for the abuse they endured. She didn’t, however, apologize for the department’s handling of the files.
Lawmakers press on indictments and redactions
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., asked how many alleged Epstein co-conspirators the department has indicted and how many it is investigating.
“How many of Epstein’s co-conspirators have you indicted? How many perpetrators are you even investigating?” Nadler said.
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Critics have accused the DOJ under AG Merrick Garland of contributing to a “cover-up” in the Epstein case, saying the release of files was delayed and incomplete.
Bondi refused to provide a number and pushed back on his tone. “I’m going to answer the question the way I want to answer the question,” she said. “Your theatrics are ridiculous.”
When Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., sought to reclaim time for Nadler, the exchange escalated. Raskin said Bondi would not be allowed to “filibuster all day long.”
“I told you about that, Attorney General, before you started,” Raskin said.
“You don’t tell me anything,” Bondi replied. “You washed-up loser lawyer. You are not even a lawyer.”
Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Oh., reminded members and the witness to maintain order.
Survivors confront the department
Rep. Pramila Jayapal. D-Wash., asked Epstein survivors seated behind Bondi to stand if they had not been able to meet with the Justice Department about their cases. All 11 stood.
Jayapal then asked Bondi to turn around and apologize for what she described as harm caused by the department’s redaction failures.
“This is not about anybody that came before you,” Jayapal said. “It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you.”
Bondi declined. She referenced former Attorney General Merrick Garland and asked why Democrats didn’t ask him questions when he was in her role during the Biden administration. At another point Bondi added, “I’m not gonna get in the gutter for her theatrics.”
The Justice Department has acknowledged mistakes in the release of documents tied to Epstein, including improper redactions.
Trump allies and critics collide
The hearing also focused on ties between Epstein and figures connected to President Donald Trump’s orbit.
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., asked whether Trump knew about reported ties between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Epstein.
“Was the president aware of Secretary Lutnick’s ties to Epstein when he chose him to lead the Department of Commerce?” Balint asked.
Bondi pivoted away from the question and criticized Balint. When Balint said she would conclude the president did know, Bondi responded, “Shame on you. You’re from a tiny, beautiful state.”
Balint replied, “Oh, for goodness sakes. This is pathetic. This is a pathetic, Mr. Chair. I am not asking trick questions here. The American people have a right to know the answers to this.”
When Balint mistakenly referred to Bondi as “secretary,” Bondi shot back, “I’m attorney general.” To which Balint responded, “My apologies, I couldn’t tell.”
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a Trump critic, also pressed Bondi over redactions involving billionaire Les Wexner, who has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. Massie asked whether the department could identify who removed Wexner’s name from a document in which he was listed as a potential co-conspirator.
Bondi said the name was restored “within 40 minutes.”
“Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed,” Massie responded.
“Red-handed?” Bondi said. “There was one redaction out of over 4,700.” She later accused Massie of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and called him a “failed politician.”
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Broader political fallout
Bondi repeatedly defended Trump, saying there is “no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime” and crediting him with signing legislation that led to the release of more than 3 million pages of documents. She demanded that Democrats apologize to the president for prior investigations and impeachments.
Democrats also questioned Bondi about the department’s unsuccessful effort to prosecute six Democratic lawmakers and about fatal shootings of two protesters by federal officers in Minneapolis. Republicans steered portions of the hearing toward crime statistics and immigration enforcement.
One exchange broke from the confrontational tone. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., asked Bondi about threats against him and his family. Bondi said those threats are being reviewed and added, “None of you should be threatened ever. None of your children should be threatened.”
The hearing concluded without new indictments announced or a timeline provided for additional prosecutions tied to Epstein. Bondi left the committee room defending the department’s actions and her approach.
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