As controversy continues over the Epstein files, the information they contain and the problem-ridden way in which they have been released, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before Congress on Wednesday to answer for the Trump administration. Her testimony often went off the rails as she shouted, insulted Democrats and at least one Republican, digressed to other topics and praised President Trump.
Bondi responds with insults and anger as she’s accused of Epstein files cover-ups
Bondi appeared on Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee, with the main topic being the Epstein files. Democrats and some Republicans have complained that the Justice Department violated the law by delaying the full release of the files, redacting names of people who may have been involved with Epstein’s crimes and failing to redact information about victims. Faced with these criticisms, Bondi soon grew combative. Some of her harshest exchanges were with a Republican, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, who was one of the leading representatives behind the bill forcing the DOJ to release the Epstein files. Massie ripped the DOJ for improperly censoring a reference to billionaire Les Wexner being a potential “co-conspirator” with Epstein. Bondi spent much of Massie’s time yelling at him, declaring, “This guy has Trump derangement syndrome” and calling Massie “a failed politician.”
In another intense exchange, California Congressman Ted Lieu played footage of Trump and Epstein chatting at a party and then asked Bondi if any underage girls were at any party that Trump attended with Epstein. When Bondi replied that “there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime,” Rep. Lieu fired back, “I believe you just lied under oath,” citing uninvestigated allegations detailed in the Epstein files, as Bondi angrily retorted, “Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!”
Bondi digresses to other issues, insults members of Congress and deflects from Trump and Epstein
Members of Congress had a difficult time keeping Bondi on topic, as she often switched to other topics or offered effusive praise for President Trump. At one point, she oddly started talking about the stock market, screaming statistics and proclaiming that that is what the committee should be talking about. “What does the DOW have to do with anything? Are you kidding?!” she said incredulously, seemingly responding to a comment made by a member of the committee as she went on her tangent.
Bondi also let insults and accusations fly. During a heated exchange with Democrats Jerry Nadler of New York and Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Bondi referred to Nadler – the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee – as “a washed-up loser lawyer” and “not even a lawyer.”
Bondi often attempted to deflect from questions about Epstein, leading to fiery exchanges. Under questioning from Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont, Bondi started to accuse her of being soft on anti-Semitism, sparking Balint to interrupt her. “Do you want to go there? Are you serious? Talking about anti-Semitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust,” Balint said angrily before getting up and exiting the chamber.
Jasmine Crockett rips Trump and Bondi as Epstein victims seek to be acknowledged
Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas had some of the harshest criticisms for President Trump and for Attorney General Bondi. Crockett said of Trump, “Now, I’m not saying that the president is a pedophile, but there is a lot of evidence in these files to suggest that he is very close friends with a lot of men who are pedophiles.”
Crockett then told Bondi in no uncertain terms, “You will be remembered as one of the worst attorneys general in history, an attorney general who has prioritized obstruction of justice, corruption over the law, fealty to the president over loyalty to the Constitution.”
In a striking image shared on social media, survivors and family members of victims of Jeffrey Epstein raised their hands in the back of the chamber to indicate Bondi’s refusal to look at them during the hearing.
Victims, Democrats and even some Republicans have loudly expressed their anger at the way the Epstein files have been released. Attorney General Bondi’s repeated crash-outs at Wednesday’s hearing are unlikely to soothe any concerns about the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case.
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