Top 5 moments as Bondi clashes with Democrats in fiery House hearing
What's the endgame here?
Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with members of the House Judiciary Committee during a tense hearing Wednesday, as she sought to defend the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and push back on Democrats' accusations of so-called "weaponization" within the department.
Bondi's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee was the first since her confirmation last year as the top U.S. law enforcement official. Much of the hearing quickly descended into chaos and shouting matches, as Democrats took aim at Bondi's actions, and as Bondi doubled down on the department's decisions under her watch. At times, she responded with barbs of her own.
Here are the five biggest takeaways and most heated exchanges from the sharp-elbowed hearing.
BONDI HEARING DEVOLVES INTO CHAOS OF SHOUTS AS AG ACCUSES TOP DEMOCRATS OF ‘THEATRICS’
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused Bondi of lying under oath about an alleged witness statement that he said showed President Donald Trump had been accused of rape, saying: "You just lied under oath."
"Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!" Bondi fired back: The exchange spiraled into chaos, with Jordan struggling to restore order.
"This is so ridiculous," Bondi said in response. "And they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done. There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime; everyone knows that!"
One of the most widely-shared moments came during an exchange with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who demanded that Bondi turn around and apologize to the Epstein survivors seated behind her in the House gallery for publishing documents that failed to redact their names.
"Will you turn to the survivors … and apologize?" Jayapal asked, accusing the department of compounding their trauma. Bondi refused, beginning to cite the actions of the former administration before Jayapal interjected.
"This is not about anybody that came before you. It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologize," Jayapal said.
"I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics," she shot back, before muttering moments later, "Unprofessional."
COMER CALLS GHISLAINE MAXWELL DEPOSITION 'VERY DISTURBING' AS SHE REFUSES ANSWERS
Notably, some Republicans also posed tough questions for Bondi, largely centered on the handling and publication of the Epstein files.
Among them was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who criticized the redactions that occurred on Bondi's …
What's the endgame here?
Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with members of the House Judiciary Committee during a tense hearing Wednesday, as she sought to defend the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and push back on Democrats' accusations of so-called "weaponization" within the department.
Bondi's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee was the first since her confirmation last year as the top U.S. law enforcement official. Much of the hearing quickly descended into chaos and shouting matches, as Democrats took aim at Bondi's actions, and as Bondi doubled down on the department's decisions under her watch. At times, she responded with barbs of her own.
Here are the five biggest takeaways and most heated exchanges from the sharp-elbowed hearing.
BONDI HEARING DEVOLVES INTO CHAOS OF SHOUTS AS AG ACCUSES TOP DEMOCRATS OF ‘THEATRICS’
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused Bondi of lying under oath about an alleged witness statement that he said showed President Donald Trump had been accused of rape, saying: "You just lied under oath."
"Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!" Bondi fired back: The exchange spiraled into chaos, with Jordan struggling to restore order.
"This is so ridiculous," Bondi said in response. "And they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done. There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime; everyone knows that!"
One of the most widely-shared moments came during an exchange with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who demanded that Bondi turn around and apologize to the Epstein survivors seated behind her in the House gallery for publishing documents that failed to redact their names.
"Will you turn to the survivors … and apologize?" Jayapal asked, accusing the department of compounding their trauma. Bondi refused, beginning to cite the actions of the former administration before Jayapal interjected.
"This is not about anybody that came before you. It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologize," Jayapal said.
"I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics," she shot back, before muttering moments later, "Unprofessional."
COMER CALLS GHISLAINE MAXWELL DEPOSITION 'VERY DISTURBING' AS SHE REFUSES ANSWERS
Notably, some Republicans also posed tough questions for Bondi, largely centered on the handling and publication of the Epstein files.
Among them was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who criticized the redactions that occurred on Bondi's …
Top 5 moments as Bondi clashes with Democrats in fiery House hearing
What's the endgame here?
Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with members of the House Judiciary Committee during a tense hearing Wednesday, as she sought to defend the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and push back on Democrats' accusations of so-called "weaponization" within the department.
Bondi's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee was the first since her confirmation last year as the top U.S. law enforcement official. Much of the hearing quickly descended into chaos and shouting matches, as Democrats took aim at Bondi's actions, and as Bondi doubled down on the department's decisions under her watch. At times, she responded with barbs of her own.
Here are the five biggest takeaways and most heated exchanges from the sharp-elbowed hearing.
BONDI HEARING DEVOLVES INTO CHAOS OF SHOUTS AS AG ACCUSES TOP DEMOCRATS OF ‘THEATRICS’
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused Bondi of lying under oath about an alleged witness statement that he said showed President Donald Trump had been accused of rape, saying: "You just lied under oath."
"Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!" Bondi fired back: The exchange spiraled into chaos, with Jordan struggling to restore order.
"This is so ridiculous," Bondi said in response. "And they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done. There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime; everyone knows that!"
One of the most widely-shared moments came during an exchange with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who demanded that Bondi turn around and apologize to the Epstein survivors seated behind her in the House gallery for publishing documents that failed to redact their names.
"Will you turn to the survivors … and apologize?" Jayapal asked, accusing the department of compounding their trauma. Bondi refused, beginning to cite the actions of the former administration before Jayapal interjected.
"This is not about anybody that came before you. It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologize," Jayapal said.
"I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics," she shot back, before muttering moments later, "Unprofessional."
COMER CALLS GHISLAINE MAXWELL DEPOSITION 'VERY DISTURBING' AS SHE REFUSES ANSWERS
Notably, some Republicans also posed tough questions for Bondi, largely centered on the handling and publication of the Epstein files.
Among them was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who criticized the redactions that occurred on Bondi's …
