By Trendsetter Tribune 
Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing intense bipartisan backlash and media scrutiny following her volatile performance during the February 11, 2026, House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. The session, which was intended to address the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, instead devolved into a series of shouting matches and personal insults.
The hearing has left a significant mark on the political landscape, particularly regarding the treatment of sexual assault survivors and the transparency of the DOJ under the current administration.
The Confrontation with Survivors
The most poignant moment of the hearing occurred when Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) asked the Epstein survivors seated in the room to stand. When all 11 survivors raised their hands to indicate they had still not been granted a meeting with the DOJ, Jayapal challenged Bondi to turn around and apologize for the department’s recent unredacted release of their private information.
- The Refusal: Bondi declined to turn toward the survivors or offer a direct apology, instead telling Committee Chair Jim Jordan that she would not “get in the gutter” with what she called “theatrics.”
- The Fallout: Jake Tapper and other critics highlighted that while Bondi claimed to be a “career prosecutor” who fights for victims, her refusal to acknowledge those in the room signaled a deep disconnect.
Sharp Exchanges and “Audience of One”
Bondi’s testimony was characterized by high-octane aggression toward Democratic lawmakers, which critics suggest was a performance intended primarily for President Trump.
- Personal Attacks: Bondi labeled Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) a “washed-up loser lawyer” and accused Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) of having “Trump derangement syndrome” after he questioned the DOJ’s failure to redact survivors’ names.
- The “Dow 50,000” Defense: In a moment widely mocked by pundits, Bondi attempted to deflect questions about child sex trafficking by citing the performance of the stock market, questioning why lawmakers weren’t discussing the “Dow smashing records” instead.
- Jake Tapper’s Pushback: Tapper bluntly countered this on The Lead, asking, “You were asked about a child rape sex ring. Why would we talk about the Dow?”
Bipartisan Criticism
While many Republicans defended Bondi, the hearing featured rare instances of public GOP dissent:
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY): A co-sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Massie criticized the DOJ’s handling of the document dump as “literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors.”
- Barbara Comstock (Former GOP Rep.): Characterized the testimony as a “bad hearing for Republicans,” noting that Bondi’s “usual audience of one” antics did little to address the serious legal questions at hand.
Key Takeaways from the Hearing
| Topic | Outcome/Response |
| Epstein Redactions | DOJ released 3 million pages; survivors’ names were exposed while many powerful figures remained redacted. |
| Victim Meetings | All survivors present confirmed they have had no access to or meetings with the current DOJ. |
| Future Indictments | Bondi vaguely alluded to “pending investigations,” contradicting earlier statements from her deputy. |
| Department Demeanor | Critics described the tone as “combative” and “retaliatory” rather than transparent. |