Pam Bondi's Fiery Confrontation with Democrats Over Epstein Files
US Attorney General Pam Bondi unleashed a torrent of insults against Democratic lawmakers during a contentious House judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday. The explosive session focused on the justice department's handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with Bondi defending the department's actions while avoiding direct answers about file management.
Heated Exchanges and Personal Attacks
Democrats aggressively questioned Bondi about the justice department's compliance with a law requiring complete release of Epstein-related files with limited redactions. After missing the statutory deadline, the department faced intense criticism for both revealing survivor identities and inexplicably redacting names of potential criminals. Bondi sidestepped these substantive issues, instead engaging in personal confrontations.
When pressed by Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington to apologize to Epstein victims present in the hearing room, Bondi refused to turn from her seat, declaring: "I'm not going to get in the gutter with this woman. She's doing theatrics."
'Washed-Up Loser Lawyer' Insult
The most dramatic moment came during Bondi's exchange with Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the committee's top Democrat. As Raskin attempted to prevent Bondi from using lengthy answers to consume the five-minute questioning period, Bondi erupted: "You don't tell me anything." She then shouted at Raskin: "You're a washed-up loser lawyer. You're not even a lawyer."
The justice department has struggled significantly with document redactions, repeatedly pulling improperly released files from its website while also removing necessary redactions. Representative Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, challenged Bondi about overly broad redactions that have damaged the department's credibility.
Defending Trump Amid Epstein Connections
Bondi repeatedly redirected criticism toward former President Donald Trump, stating: "I find it interesting that she keeps going after President Trump, the greatest president in American history." This remark broke with traditional justice department norms of maintaining distance from presidential politics to avoid perceptions of law enforcement interference.
Released files have revealed that several Trump associates—including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, former strategist Steve Bannon, and Elon Musk—had closer relationships with Epstein than previously known. None have been charged with wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Accusations of Lying Under Oath
In another heated exchange, Representative Ted Lieu of California asked whether Trump ever attended parties with underage girls. Bondi dismissed the question as "ridiculous" and declared: "There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that."
Lieu responded that this statement might constitute perjury, since Trump's name appears repeatedly in Epstein files. One message from Epstein claimed Trump "knew about" the girls but never received massages. Former Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter told the FBI that Trump said "everyone has known he's been doing this" as Epstein came under investigation. Trump has never been charged and denies any Epstein-related wrongdoing.
Decades-Long Cover-Up Allegations
The hearing grew more intense when Bondi clashed with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, the Republican who sponsored the disclosure law. Bondi attempted to shift blame from the Trump administration by accusing Massie of not investigating previous administrations regarding Epstein, whose sex trafficking spanned decades.
Massie countered: "This goes over four administrations. You don't have to go back to Biden. Let's go back to Obama. Let's go back to George Bush. This coverup spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion."
The hearing exposed deep partisan divisions over Epstein document handling, with Bondi's combative approach drawing condemnation from Democrats while highlighting ongoing controversies about political influence in justice department operations.
