U.S. attorney general clashes with Democrats at hearing over Epstein questions

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday clashed with Democratic lawmakers at a congressional hearing on the oversight of the Department of Justice, as they questioned her over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

When Representative Ted Lieu of California asked whether there were any underage girls at any parties Donald Trump had attended with Epstein, Bondi told the House Judiciary Committee, "This is so ridiculous."

"They are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done," Bondi said. "There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that, this has been the most transparent presidency."

Lieu then accused Bondi of having lied under oath, mentioning a witness who had called the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about potential wrongdoings by Epstein and Trump, but was never interviewed by the Department of Justice.

"And as we say here today, there are over 1,000 sex trafficking victims, and you have not held a single man accountable. Shame on you. If you had any decency, you would resign right after this hearing," Lieu said.

Democratic Representative Becca Balint of Vermont asked Bondi if the department has questioned U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his ties to Epstein. "Secretary Lutnick has addressed those ties himself," Bondi replied, referring to a testimony he had provided to Congress on Tuesday.

Lutnick admitted during a Senate hearing that he had met with Epstein twice after the late financier was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, contradicting his earlier claim that he had cut ties with Epstein after 2005.

"I think Americans would be shocked to learn that you are not interested in talking with these officials who have ties to Jeffrey Epstein," Balint said. At certain moments, the Democratic lawmaker and Bondi shouted at each other.

The attorney general also clashed with Pramila Jayapal, Democratic Representative from the state of Washington, when Jayapal asked her to apologize to Epstein survivors for the administration's handling of the case. The two talked over each other, and Bondi accused the congresswoman of engaging in "theatrics." The attorney general did not apologize.

The hearing, which lasted for over five hours, is highly partisan, with a noticeable difference in the issues Democratic and Republican lawmakers focus on in their questioning.

Republicans have focused their questions on issues like federal benefits fraud, alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and the Steele dossier and probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, among other topics. Democrats, meanwhile, have directed their attention to the department's handling of the Epstein files, and investigations into the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota.