The hearing is nearing the five-hour mark, and Bondi has spent the majority of it trying to turn the page from persistent criticism of the Justice Department by aggressively pivoting.
The attorney general launched into a wide-ranging, passionate defense of President Donald Trump, mocked her Democratic questioners and refused to directly respond to their accusations that she is perpetuating a cover-up and ignoring victims, several of whom are sitting behind her in the hearing room.
Bondi also defended the department’s handling of the files related to Epstein, even as its political saga continues to dog her term. It’s the first time the attorney general appears before Congress since a similarly tumultuous hearing in October.
Democrats have hammered Bondi repeatedly for the latest file dump disclosing some victims’ identities. North Carolina Republican Rep. Brad Knott offered Bondi a defense.
“Many on this committee made very serious efforts … to give you the resources and time” to “thoroughly go through that file” to make sure victims were shielded, he said.
Knott argued that such amendments to the Epstein disclosure resolution were “met with refusal” from House leadership.
Democrats on the committee have argued throughout the day that Bondi’s department still has managed to redact considerable portions of the documents.
Rep. Dan Goldman had a handful of prominent victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse who are in the hearing room with Attorney General Pam Bondi stand and raise their hands if they had tried to speak with the Department of Justice but not received a response.
All of the survivors raised their hands.
Goldman pointed to an email contained in released files that contained a list of victims, but only one had been blacked out. “That is clearly intentional to intimidate these survivors and victims,” he said.
Bondi pushed back on the accusation that it was an intentional mistake.
Illinois Rep. Jesus Garcia, a Democrat, launched into an intense litany of complaints against Bondi, asking her no clear questions, bringing up the prospect of impeachment and telling her she should resign.
Garcia tweaked Bondi by entering into the record a Wall Street Journal article that suggested Trump has complained privately about Bondi being ineffective.”
Bondi responded by bringing up Garcia’s controversial retirement announcement after Illinois’ deadline to file campaign paperwork — and after his chief of staff had quietly filed to run for the seat. The House adopted a resolution condemning Garcia’s maneuver.
Garcia called it a state political matter and told Bondi her job is to investigate federal crimes.
Among the feistiest and most bitter exchanges came with Rep. Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat who tried to ask Bondi whether the Justice Department had questioned different Trump administration officials about their ties to Epstein.
Bondi declined to answer directly, instead saying that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had already answered questions on the issue.
As Balint tried to press further, Bondi responded, “Shame on you.” That touched off a furious response from a frustrated Balint, who said: “This is pathetic. I am not asking trick questions. The American people deserve to know. These are senior Trump officials.”
The situation became even more tense when Bondi referenced “antisemitic culture” and a resolution that she said Balint voted against.
The question was cut off by a shouting Balint, who said: “You want to go there? Are you serious? Talking about antisemitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust!”
(Copyright, All Rights Reserved,WBAP/KLIF 2026)
