Attorney General Pam Bondi forcefully defended her leadership of the Justice Department during a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing. This as Democratic lawmakers accused her of mishandling the release of the Epstein files and weaponizing federal law enforcement to serve President Trump’s political agenda. The session quickly devolved into sharp exchanges, with Bondi responding to criticism with personal barbs and dismissing questions as partisan attacks.
Bondi framed the department’s recent actions as part of a broader effort to restore law and order. She praised Trump’s leadership and blamed the Biden administration for what she described as the politicization of the Justice Department. She also criticized what she called “liberal activist judges” for obstructing the president’s priorities. Republicans on the committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, applauded her tenure. They credited her and FBI Director Kash Patel with reducing violent crime and returning the department to its “core missions.”
Democrats, however, pressed Bondi over the department’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. They questioned why victims’ identities were not fully protected in the released files and highlighted concerns that key information may have been withheld. More than a dozen Epstein victims attended the hearing, and some indicated they had not been contacted by the Justice Department. Bondi expressed sympathy for victims but deflected blame toward her predecessor, Merrick Garland, and resisted calls for an apology. She also faced scrutiny over the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security facility, saying she was unaware of the move until after it occurred.
Political Retaliation
Tensions escalated further when lawmakers challenged Bondi about potential politically motivated prosecutions. Rep. Jamie Raskin accused her of turning the Justice Department into “Trump’s instrument of revenge”. Meanwhile Rep. Thomas Massie questioned why more individuals linked to Epstein were not under investigation. Bondi dismissed Massie’s concerns as “Trump derangement syndrome” and repeatedly pivoted to the department’s broader crime-fighting efforts.
Throughout the hearing, Bondi consistently praised Trump and declined to distance herself from his rhetoric or actions. When asked directly whether she believed the president was honest, she responded affirmatively. The hearing underscored deep partisan divisions over the Justice Department’s direction, with supporters portraying Bondi as restoring order and critics warning of growing political interference in federal law enforcement.
Reference
Stein, P., & Roebuck, J. (2026, February 11). Pam Bondi lashes out as lawmakers press her on Epstein, cases against Trump foes. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/11/bondi-house-hearing-epstein-crime/