WASHINGTON — In what may be remembered as one of the most vitriolic congressional appearances in modern history, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to address the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) handling of millions of records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The hearing, which lasted over five hours, was characterized more by visceral, personal shouting matches than by legal inquiry, highlighting the total breakdown of decorum between the executive branch and congressional Democrats.
This video is an 11:43 edited version. Courtesy of PBS
This is the unedited version running 5 Hours. Courtesy of DWS
A Powder Keg Atmosphere
The tension was palpable from the moment Bondi entered the hearing room. Seated directly behind her were several high-profile Epstein survivors, including Theresa Helm and family members of the late Virginia Giuffre. Their presence served as a silent, somber contrast to the fireworks that were about to erupt on the dais.
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) set the tone with a blistering opening statement. He accused Bondi of orchestrating a “grotesque cover-up” designed to protect powerful associates of the late sex offender while “recklessly” exposing the very victims she claimed to protect. Raskin noted that under the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” the DOJ was legally obligated to release documents with strictly limited redactions. Instead, he argued, the department had produced a “wall of black ink” that shielded perpetrators but left survivors’ private information and sensitive photographs vulnerable.
“Washed-Up Loser Lawyer”: The Viral Exchange
The hearing’s most explosive moment occurred during Raskin’s first round of questioning. When Bondi attempted to filibuster a question about unredacted victim names by pivoting to crime statistics, Raskin attempted to reclaim his time, reminding her of the committee’s rules.
Bondi, visibly incensed, leaned into her microphone and shouted, “You don’t tell me anything! You’re a washed-up loser lawyer—you’re not even a lawyer!”
Raskin, a former constitutional law professor, remained stone-faced as the room erupted. Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) was forced to gavel the committee to order for nearly a minute as lawmakers from both sides began shouting at one another. The insult became an immediate focal point of the day, symbolizing Bondi’s “loaded for bear” approach to oversight.
The “Burn Book” and Surveillance Allegations
The hearing took an even more bizarre turn when Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) accused Bondi of using the DOJ’s resources to “spy” on them. Bondi was seen referencing a large binder that allegedly contained opposition research on the committee members.
Moskowitz, with his trademark dry wit, dared Bondi to “flip to the Jared Moskowitz section of the binder.” He pulled out a poster board and a marker, asking her to give him her “best insult” from what he termed her “burn book.” Bondi did not take the bait, instead accusing the congressman of “mocking the Bible.”
However, the levity ended when Jayapal revealed that a photo taken by a news photographer showed Bondi holding a document titled “Jayapal Pramila Search History.” The document reportedly listed the specific file numbers and descriptions of Epstein records Jayapal had searched for in a secure room at the DOJ earlier in the week.
“It is totally inappropriate and against the separation of powers for the DOJ to surveil us as we search the Epstein files,” Jayapal said, her voice shaking with anger. Bondi declined to explain how she obtained the search history, instead pivoting to a Border Patrol agent who had been killed in 2025, accusing Jayapal of ignoring “real victims.”
Bipartisan Frustration
While Republican members like Jim Jordan and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) largely used their time to praise Bondi’s focus on border security and “ending the weaponization of the DOJ,” the Attorney General was not entirely safe from her own side of the aisle.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who co-authored the transparency legislation, grew visibly frustrated with Bondi’s inability to explain why the name of billionaire Les Wexner had been redacted as a “co-conspirator” in one FBI document while being left unredacted in others. When Massie pressed her on who was responsible for the “sloppy” execution of the release, Bondi turned on him, accusing him of having “Trump derangement syndrome” and calling him a “hypocrite” for not investigating previous administrations.
“This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion,” Massie shot back, marking a rare moment of public friction between Bondi and a conservative stalwart.
Refusal to Apologize
As the afternoon wore on, the focus shifted back to the survivors in the room. Rep. Jayapal asked Bondi to physically turn around in her chair and apologize to the women sitting behind her for the DOJ’s failure to protect their identities in the public document dump.
Bondi refused. “I’m not going to get in the gutter with this woman. She’s doing theatrics,” Bondi said, referring to Jayapal. While Bondi had noted in her prepared remarks that she was “deeply sorry” for what the victims suffered at the hands of Epstein, she steadfastly refused to acknowledge any departmental failure in the redaction process, stating only that they “did the best they could” under tight deadlines.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) characterized Bondi’s performance as a “Jekyll and Hyde routine,” noting that she was cooperative and soft-spoken with Republicans but snarling and dismissive toward Democrats.
A Legacy of Conflict
By the time the hearing adjourned, little new information regarding the Epstein investigation had been unearthed. Bondi had refused to answer 15 specific questions posed by Democrats, including whether the DOJ would create a task force to help state-level prosecutors pursue Epstein’s co-conspirators.
Instead, the session served as a stark reminder of the new reality in Washington. The Attorney General, once a role defined by legal sobriety and distance from partisan fray, has, under Bondi, become a frontline combatant in the nation’s culture wars. As Bondi left the room, surrounded by security, the survivors remained in their seats, their demand for a full, unredacted accounting of the Epstein network still largely unmet.
Sources and Links
- House Judiciary Committee: 15 Questions Pam Bondi Refused to Answer
- The Guardian: ‘You’re a washed-up loser lawyer’: Pam Bondi taunts Democrats
- CBS News: Bondi had list of lawmaker’s search history during hearing
- PBS NewsHour: Epstein files took center stage at Bondi’s oversight hearing
- Congressional Record: Senate Democrats move to sue over Epstein Transparency Act
- WBZ NewsRadio: Heated Hearing Turns Into Shouting Match Between Bondi, Lawmakers
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