Epstein Survivors Voice Outrage Over Attorney General's Congressional Testimony
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have delivered scathing criticism of US Attorney General Pam Bondi following her fiery appearance before a Congressional justice committee. During her first sworn testimony since the release of the Epstein files, Bondi faced intense questioning from Democrat politicians while defending her department's handling of the sensitive documents.
Combative Exchange in Congressional Hearing
The hearing, which occurred on Wednesday, frequently descended into shouting matches as Bondi defended the Department of Justice's approach to releasing Epstein-related documents. As the official ultimately responsible for the files' release, Bondi faced accusations that powerful figures continue to be protected through incomplete document releases and extensive redactions.
"I am deeply sorry for what any victim has been through, especially as a result of that monster," Bondi told the committee. However, she refused to accept personal responsibility for initial failures to protect victims' identities and maintained that department staff had performed their duties admirably under extreme pressure.
Survivors Feel Ignored and Degraded
The emotional climax occurred when Democrat committee member Pramila Jayapal asked which Epstein survivors still hadn't been able to meet with Department of Justice officials. Every survivor present in the hearing room raised their hand, creating a powerful visual moment captured by Reuters photographers.
Despite their visible presence directly behind her, Bondi refused to turn and acknowledge the survivors, instead accusing Democrats of resorting to "theatrics" and using the Epstein scandal to distract from President Donald Trump's political successes.
"You sit here and you attack the president and I'm not going to have it. I am not going to put up with it," Bondi declared during one particularly heated exchange.
Victims Express Devastation and Anger
Following the hearing, survivors expressed profound disappointment with Bondi's performance. Dani Bensky, who was abused by Epstein in his New York mansion at age seventeen while pursuing ballet, told NBC News: "There was such a lack of empathy today. There was such a lack of, honestly, humanity today."
Bensky emphasized that Bondi had three separate opportunities to address the survivors directly but chose not to turn around and face them. "We stood up, and all she had to do was turn around, and she could not even turn around and face us," she recounted.
Teresa Helm, who said Epstein abused her when she was twenty-two, similarly felt betrayed by the proceedings. "There was no integrity in that room today, it seems like, when it came to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell," Helm stated.
Sharlene Rochard, who met Epstein as a teenage model, described feeling "really degraded" by Bondi's testimony and noted the attorney general appeared to be "not taking at all any accountability" regarding survivors' concerns.
Ongoing Investigations and Additional Revelations
During her testimony, Bondi revealed that her department maintains pending investigations against some Epstein co-conspirators, a development many victims have been actively pushing for. However, she provided no specific details about which individuals might be involved in these ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, separate from the Congressional hearing, Valeria Chomsky issued a public apology regarding her husband's association with Epstein. Noam Chomsky's wife acknowledged "serious errors of judgement" in their relationship with the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
"Noam and I recognise the gravity of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and the profound suffering of his victims," Valeria Chomsky stated. She explained that Epstein had presented himself as a philanthropist supporting scientific research and a financial expert, which initially attracted the renowned intellectual's attention.
"By presenting himself this way, Epstein gained Noam's attention, and they began corresponding," Mrs. Chomsky continued. "Unknowingly, we opened a door to a Trojan horse." The latest document releases appear to reveal deeper connections between Chomsky and Epstein than were previously known to the public.
The Congressional hearing and subsequent survivor reactions highlight ongoing tensions between Epstein victims seeking accountability and transparency, and government officials managing the complex legal and political ramifications of one of the most notorious sexual abuse cases in recent American history.
