Bondi Faces Intense Scrutiny Over Epstein Files During House Hearing

“Pending investigations,” Attorney General Bondi stated, responding to Republican Rep. Chip Roy's inquiries about the Epstein files. This assertion seemingly contradicts Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's earlier remarks that indicated no new prosecutions were on the horizon.

Blanche, speaking to CNN, remarked, “There’s nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute anybody,” referring to the Justice Department's review of Epstein's files conducted last year. He emphasized, “The whole world can look at and see if we got this wrong.”

“Horrible photographs” linked to Epstein were mentioned, but Blanche clarified that such evidence does not automatically lead to prosecutions. He also confirmed to ABC that the department's review of the files had concluded.

A memo from the Justice Department and FBI in July stated that their examination of Epstein's materials “did not uncover evidence that could predicate any investigation against uncharged parties.”

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz challenged Bondi to reveal opposition research compiled against him by her aides at the Justice Department. Bondi, with a large binder in front of her, often resorted to personal attacks in her responses.

Moskowitz spent his questioning time focusing on Epstein’s connections to high-profile individuals, including the president and Howard Lutnick. As his time dwindled, he pressed Bondi for information, asking, “Whatcha got?”

“Flip to the Jared Moskowitz section of the binder,” he urged, “I want to see how good it is.” He then brandished a marker and poster board, demanding, “I want it from the burn book. Which is the best one?”

In a heated exchange, Bondi accused Moskowitz of “mocking the Bible,” referencing his claim that Trump’s name appeared in the Epstein files more frequently than God’s name in biblical texts.

Moskowitz responded by writing a large “0” on his board as his time expired.

During questioning from Rep. Becca Balint, a Democrat from Vermont, Bondi repeatedly sidestepped inquiries about whether the Justice Department had questioned Lutnick, Navy Secretary John Phelan, or Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg regarding their ties to Epstein.

Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein’s private island in 2012 but denied any relationship with him. Phelan was listed on flight manifests from Epstein’s plane in 2006, while Feinberg was mentioned in at least 20 documents released by the Justice Department.

Bondi claimed Lutnick had addressed his connections but did not clarify whether Phelan and Feinberg had been questioned.

“I’m stunned that you want to continue talking about Epstein,” Bondi remarked.

Balint expressed frustration: “This is pathetic. I am not asking trick questions here. The American people have a right to know.”

In a contentious moment, Bondi criticized Balint for her vote on a resolution condemning antisemitism, prompting Balint to retort angrily about her family history during the Holocaust.

Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross pressed Bondi on Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer from a federal facility in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas last year, which occurred shortly after Maxwell met with Blanche regarding Epstein’s case.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s crimes. Bondi claimed she was unaware of the transfer until after it happened.

Ross then asked if Trump should pardon Maxwell. Bondi deflected, accusing Ross of ignoring other pressing issues.

Rep. Joe Neguse questioned Bondi about hiring Jared Wise as an adviser despite his controversial past during the January 6 Capitol attack. Bondi defended the decision by stating Wise had been pardoned by Trump.

Neguse also raised concerns about the disbanding of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section and its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, but Bondi avoided direct answers.

Raskin, the committee's leading Democrat, pressed Bondi on Trump’s legal actions against federal agencies and whether survivors of Epstein’s crimes should receive damages for their privacy violations.

Bondi accused Raskin of being “obsessed” with Trump as Raskin highlighted the lack of accountability for Epstein’s associates.

Rep. Thomas Massie criticized Bondi for her department's handling of Epstein files, particularly regarding redactions that failed to protect survivors' identities while obscuring powerful individuals’ names.

Massie questioned why names like Les Wexner were redacted despite appearing numerous times in documents related to Epstein. Bondi claimed Wexner’s name was unredacted shortly after Massie raised concerns.

Bondi labeled Massie a “failed politician” and accused him of hypocrisy regarding his criticisms of the administration.

In response to Rep. Lou Correa’s inquiries about protecting victims’ information, Bondi assured that any errors would be corrected and emphasized the department's commitment to transparency.

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu confronted Bondi about allegations against Trump included in the Epstein files and criticized her for failing to hold accountable those involved in sex trafficking.

Bondi reiterated accusations against Democrats for deflecting from Trump’s achievements while reciting crime statistics from California.

Rep. Eric Swalwell pressed Bondi on threats made against him and others, seeking assurance that the Justice Department would take such threats seriously.

Jordan questioned whether former CIA Director John Brennan would face indictment for alleged lies during investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Bondi confirmed receipt of a referral for investigation but did not provide further details.

The hearing saw tensions rise as Raskin demanded respect for lawmakers’ time while criticizing Bondi for evading questions and resorting to personal attacks.

As the hearing progressed, Raskin accused Bondi of siding with perpetrators over victims and failing to adequately address their needs during the release of Epstein-related documents.

The Justice Department has faced backlash over its handling of redactions in millions of pages of documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, with survivors expressing dissatisfaction over their identities being exposed.

Bondi defended her department's efforts while acknowledging mistakes and emphasizing their commitment to protecting victims’ rights amidst ongoing scrutiny from both sides of Congress.