A House representative has demanded Pam Bondi’s resignation during a contentious hearing concerning the Department of Justice’s management of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
On Wednesday, February 11, the US Attorney General appeared before a congressional committee to answer questions following the release of millions of Epstein files. These files, though heavily redacted, have been criticized by both political parties for allegedly shielding those associated with Epstein.
The House Judiciary Committee interrogated Bondi on the DOJ’s criteria for determining which information should be made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as reported by Global News.
Throughout the session, the 60-year-old defended Donald Trump, acknowledging that the President’s name does appear in several files. Trump has never faced accusations of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, and his mention in the files does not imply any guilt.
However, Bondi herself faced accusations of dishonesty as the hearing grew increasingly intense.
California Democrat Ted Lieu accused Bondi of ‘lying under oath’ as he further questioned her about Trump’s relationship with Epstein.
Trump and Epstein were associated in the early 2000s, but Trump has consistently denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, claiming they “fell out” after Epstein attempted to recruit workers from Trump.
After the file release on January 30, both the DOJ and the White House issued statements labeling the documents as containing “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump.”
In an exchange with Lieu, who played a video showing Trump at a party with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the background, he asked: “I want to know: were there any underage girls at that party, or at any party that Trump attended with Jeffrey Epstein?”
Bondi dismissed the question as “ridiculous” and reiterated her defense of the President, stating: “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. This has been the most transparent presidency.”
Lieu, a former military prosecutor, countered: “I’m going to put up another document from a witness who called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, because I believe you just lied under oath. There is ample evidence in the Epstein file.”
“Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!” Bondi responded.
“I believe you just lied under oath, and this is all on videotape,” Lieu replied. “You said there’s no evidence of a crime. Here is a witness statement from someone who called into the FBI’s Threat Operations Center. He drove Donald Trump around in a limo. He overheard what Donald Trump said to Jeffrey on his cell phone.
“He was so angry he was going to stop the limo and hurt Donald Trump. He also met a girl who said she was raped by Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.”
The witness statement Lieu referred to was from a limo driver who claimed that while driving Trump to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in 1995, Trump made some “very concerning” comments on his phone.
“[Driver] reported he was ‘a few seconds from pulling the limousine over on the median and within a few seconds of pulling him out of the car and hurting him, due to some of the things he was saying’,” the file read.
“[Driver] noted Trump continuously stated the name ‘Jeffrey’ while on the phone, and made references to ‘abusing some girl.’ [Driver] was unsure who he was talking to nor who he was referencing.”
The alleged victim was later found dead under suspicious circumstances, with investigators determining it “could not have been suicide,” Lieu added.
“No one at the Department of Justice interviewed this witness. You need to interview this witness immediately.”
Lieu concluded his remarks by saying: “Epstein should rot in hell. So should the men who patronized his operation. As we sit here today, there are over 1,000 sex trafficking victims, and you have not held a single man accountable.”
He then urged Bondi to resign: “Shame on you. If you had any decency, you would resign right after this hearing concludes.”
Requests for comment have been made to Pam Bondi and the White House.