Pam Bondi clashes with lawmakers in first House hearing over Epstein files
Attorney general Pam Bondi faced a tense House Judiciary Committee hearing in her first appearance since confirmation, amid sharp exchanges over the handling and release of Epstein-related documents. Democrats and Epstein survivors argued the latest rollout was marred by inconsistent redactions that could expose nude photos and other sensitive material, while Bondi said the department has worked to unredact information that should be public and to protect victims’ details. The session included pointed clashes, with rep. jamie Raskin accusing Bondi of lying under oath about an FBI witness,and other lawmakers pressing her on victims’ access to information and the scope of the Epstein files. Bondi defended her prosecutorial record,apologized to victims,and touted economic gains and transparency during the Trump era as a contrast,while insisting there’s no evidence that Trump committed a crime in connection with Epstein. At times she pivoted to unrelated violent crimes,drawing criticism from some lawmakers about neglecting victims. The hearing highlighted ongoing partisan tensions and questions surrounding Epstein documents and potential ties to powerful figures.
Bondi has tense exchanges with lawmakers in first House hearing since confirmation
Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed repeatedly with lawmakers Wednesday in her first appearance before the House Judiciary Committee since her confirmation, which quickly devolved into shouting matches and accusations of lying under oath.
The bulk of the criticism Bondi confronted surrounded the department’s handling and release of millions of additional documents tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Although Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act to mandate broader disclosure after Justice Department officials said last year that no further files would be released, victims and several lawmakers say the latest rollout was marred by inconsistent redactions that exposed nude photos and other sensitive material.
Democratic lawmakers, along with activists and victims of Epstein, have also argued that possibly damaging information about Epstein’s powerful associates remains shielded. Bondi shot back that the department has been proactive in unredacting any information that should be made public and said there have been subsequent redactions of any information related to victims that might have been exposed via the online web portal.
Massie: “Are you able to track who it was that obscured Les Wexner’s name as a co-conspirator in an FBI document?
Bondi: “We corrected it within 40 minutes”
Massie: “Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed.”
Bondi: “This guy has Trump derangement syndrome. You’re a… pic.twitter.com/LOHtC8syz3
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 11, 2026
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) began his questioning of Bondi with lofty accusations, saying she had been “abandoning victims and coddling perpetrators,” referencing relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre seated behind the attorney general. He urged her not to “waste one second” of the committee’s time.
Bondi defended her record as a career prosecutor and addressed survivors directly. “I am deeply sorry for what any victim — any victim — has been through, especially as a result of that monster,” she said, referring to Epstein.
But tensions escalated when Bondi declined to turn around and acknowledge several women, who say they’re survivors of Epstein and have indicated they had been unable to reach the department. She characterized Democratic demands for another apology as “theatrics.”
The hearing repeatedly veered beyond the scope of the Epstein disclosures. At one point, Bondi pivoted to tout economic gains under President Donald Trump, citing record highs in the stock market and rising retirement accounts as evidence of what she called unprecedented transparency.
On multiple occasions, when pressed about the files, she countered by highlighting unrelated violent crimes, including the killings of Border Patrol agent David Chris Malin and Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant stabbed in North Carolina. “Who is Chris Malin?” she asked Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT), highlighting a lack of concern for victims such as him in her state.
BALINT: Was the president aware of Secretary Lutnick’s ties to Epstein when he chose him to lead the Department of Commerce?
BONDI: Chris Malen was a Border Patrol agent—-
BALINT: So I’m going to conclude that he did know!
BONDI: Shame on you
BALINT: This is pathetic! This… pic.twitter.com/C1FC6LLIEw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 11, 2026
One of the most heated exchanges came with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), who accused Bondi of lying under oath after referencing an FBI witness statement alleging misconduct by Trump.
Lieu: Were there any underage girls at that party or any party that Trump attended with Jeffrey Epstein.
Bondi: There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime
Lieu: I believe you just lied under oath.
Bondi: DON’T YOU EVER ACCUSE ME OF A CRIME
Lieu: I’m showing… pic.twitter.com/wFqTnh7acm
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 11, 2026
“Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime,” Bondi shot back, maintaining there is no evidence Trump committed a criminal offense in connection with Epstein. She noted the witness cited by Lieu was not interviewed by the department.
Bondi also faced pointed criticism from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who helped advance the legislation forcing the file releases.
He rebuked her over the exposure of victims’ personal information, telling her it was “literally the worst thing you could do to survivors.”
LIVE UPDATES: BONDI TO FACE QUESTIONS ON EPSTEIN FILES RELEASE IN DOJ OVERSIGHT HEARING
Bondi, who acknowledged that Trump’s name appears “countless” times in the Epstein files, accused Massie of focusing on the files because he has “Trump derangement syndrome.”
She called Massie a “hypocrite” for his exhaustive focus on Epstein despite voting “no” on a law signed by Trump that directs social media platforms to remove AI deepfake pornography of innocent victims.
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