Bondi Hearing Devolves Into Shouting Match Over Botched Epstein Files Release

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s defiant appearance Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee showed her contempt for any critique of her handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

She repeatedly refused to apologize to victims whose names were exposed, while simultaneously defending redactions that continue to hide the names of powerful men that may be implicated in Epstein’s crimes.

At one point, Bondi caused an audible ruckus at the hearing when she deflected by changing the subject to the nation’s economic state.

“The Dow is over 50,000 right now!” she said. “The S&P at almost 7,000! And the NASDAQ smashing records! Americans’ 401(k)s and retirement savings are booming. That’s what we should be talking about. We should be talking about making Americans safe … what does the Dow have to do with anything? That’s what they just asked? Are you kidding?”

But Democrats and at least one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, pressed her on what they characterized as the Justice Department’s careless release of millions of records relating to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.

Massie cosponsored a bill last year with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the DOJ to release FBI documents about the network of men who partook in Epstein’s sexual abuse, while ensuring that victims’ names would remain redacted. Instead, the DOJ appears to have done the opposite, in some instances hiding the men’s names while publishing the women’s names — including one email clearly labeled “Epstein Victim List.”

Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat, reminded Bondi that she’d already learned about the grave importance of protecting victims’ identities during her previous career as a state prosecutor who worked on sex crimes cases.

“How many lives have been derailed because your department was either sloppy and incompetent or willfully tried to intimidate and punish these ladies?” he said as his allotted time neared its end.

“Your time is up,” Bondi replied.

That exchange marked the second time Bondi had been asked to turn around and face the Epstein survivors who attended the hearing. Earlier, Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked the women to stand and raise their hand if they have yet to meet with the DOJ. All 10 raised a hand. When Bondi was asked to apologize to them for exposing their names and ignoring their pleas to meet with investigators, she instead derided the congresswoman’s request as “theatrics.”

Throughout the hearing, most Republicans on the panel used the attorney general’s appearance to complain about the previous presidential administration or champion this current DOJ’s auxiliary support of the roving deportation patrols that have wreaked havoc on Los Angeles, Minneapolis and other Democratic-led cities across the country.

However, Massie stood out for his acerbic critique of Bondi’s continued refusal to abide by the letter of the law he helped author.

“Literally, the worst thing you could do to the survivors, you did,” Massie said.

The congressman from Kentucky, whose previous alliance with President Donald Trump has crumbled during Massie’s crusade to expose the full extent of Epstein’s abuse, went on to detail how he has used the limited access the DOJ has given legislators to unredacted versions of the files on a select few computers at the Justice Department. Massie explained how Les Wexner, the Ohio retail billionaire behind Victoria’s Secret and numerous other brands, was redacted on a list of coconspirators until he brought it to the DOJ’s attention.

“This is a political show,” Bondi replied. “Within 40 minutes… Wexner’s name was added back—”

“Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed!” Massie shot back.

“Red handed?” Bondi laughed. “There was one redaction out of over 4,700—”

“Where he’s listed as a coconspirator!” Massie noted.

“This guy has Trump Derangement Syndrome. You’re a failed politician,” Bondi retorted.