WASHINGTON – Attorney General Pam Bondi used a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on to defend the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, pivoting to tout economic gains under President Trump’s leadership. The unexpected turn came during questioning from House Democrats regarding the Justice Department’s release of information related to the convicted sex offender and potential co-conspirators.
Bondi repeatedly highlighted the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s recent surge, stating, “The Dow is over 50,000 right now,” as justification for the administration’s broader successes. She further emphasized the positive performance of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, and the growth in Americans’ retirement accounts, suggesting these economic indicators were more relevant than scrutiny over the Epstein case. “That’s what we should be talking about,” she asserted.
The comments drew immediate criticism from Democrats on the committee. Representative Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., had previously criticized Bondi and the Department of Justice for failing to indict potential co-conspirators in the Epstein case. Bondi’s response was perceived as a deflection tactic, prompting accusations of a cover-up.
Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the panel’s ranking member, accused the DOJ of a “massive Epstein cover-up,” pointing to the delayed release of files mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump in . Raskin also criticized the redaction of names in released documents, alleging that the DOJ prioritized protecting alleged co-conspirators over safeguarding the identities of Epstein’s victims.
“So you ignored the law, and even with over 100,000 employees at your disposal, you acted with some mixture of staggering incompetence, cold indifference and jaded cruelty towards more than 1,000 victims, raped, abused and trafficked,” Raskin stated. “This performance screams cover up.”
The hearing became increasingly contentious when Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington asked Epstein survivors present in the hearing room to identify themselves if they had been unable to meet with the DOJ. All those who stood raised their hands. Jayapal then requested Bondi apologize for the release of victims’ information in the Epstein files. Bondi responded by referencing previous testimony from former Attorney General Merrick Garland, leading to a heated exchange. “I’m not gonna get in the gutter for her theatrics,” Bondi said.
Bondi also admonished Democrats for their past impeachment efforts against President Trump, stating, “You all should be apologizing.” She continued, “You sit here and you attack the president, and I am not going to have it. I’m not going to put up with it.”
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a cosponsor of the Epstein files bill, challenged Bondi on the redaction issues, specifically highlighting the obscuring of the name of Les Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria’s Secret, in an FBI document. Bondi claimed the redaction was corrected “within 40 minutes,” a claim Massie countered with, “40 minutes of me catching you red-handed.” Bondi then accused Massie of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome.”
The hearing underscores the ongoing political fallout from the Epstein case and the Justice Department’s handling of related files. The release of these files, despite redaction efforts, has exposed sensitive private information about victims, prompting further scrutiny of the DOJ’s procedures and raising questions about potential obstruction of justice. The focus on economic performance by Attorney General Bondi represents a strategic attempt to shift the narrative away from these concerns and highlight the administration’s perceived successes.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 for the first time on and continued to climb throughout the week, a point repeatedly emphasized by Bondi. This economic data serves as a key talking point for the Trump administration, which has consistently linked market gains to the President’s policies. However, Democrats argue that focusing on the stock market distracts from the serious allegations surrounding the Epstein case and the need for accountability.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law after initial resistance from President Trump, aims to ensure greater public access to documents related to the case. However, the ongoing delays in releasing files and the controversial redactions have fueled accusations that the DOJ is deliberately hindering the investigation and protecting powerful individuals implicated in the scandal. The hearing on highlighted the deep partisan divisions surrounding the issue and the challenges facing efforts to achieve transparency and justice for Epstein’s victims.
