Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11, 2026, in a contentious oversight hearing marked by sharp exchanges with Democratic lawmakers. Democrats accused the Department of Justice of targeting political opponents and mishandling Jeffrey Epstein files, while Bondi defended her actions and criticized the questioning as theatrics. The session highlighted partisan tensions over the DOJ's direction under the Trump administration.
The House Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on February 11, 2026, where Attorney General Pam Bondi faced intense scrutiny from Democratic members regarding the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files and investigations into political figures.
In his opening statement, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) criticized the DOJ's approach to the Epstein files, noting the presence of survivors in the hearing room and calling for greater transparency. "You're not showing a lot of interest in the victims, Madam Attorney General, whether it's Epstein's human trafficking ring or the homicidal governmental violence against citizens in Minneapolis," Raskin said. He accused Bondi of siding with perpetrators over victims.
Bondi responded by defending the release of millions of documents and expressing sympathy for survivors. "I'm deeply sorry for what any victim, any victim, has been through, especially as a result of that monster," she stated in her opening remarks. However, when Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) asked Bondi to apologize to survivors for the files' release, Bondi retorted, "I'm not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics."
Tensions escalated during questioning by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who alleged the DOJ was targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James for prosecuting President Trump. Nadler asked, "How many perpetrators are you even investigating?" in reference to Epstein. Bondi insisted, "I'm going to answer the question the way I want to answer the question," leading to Nadler reclaiming his time and interruptions from Democrats.
Bondi dismissed the disruptions as political theater, at one point calling Raskin a "washed-up, loser lawyer." Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) defended Bondi, reminding members that witnesses must be allowed to answer questions. He noted, "What a difference a year makes," praising the DOJ's focus on rule of law and safety.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) also pressed Bondi on Epstein, accusing the DOJ of over-redacting incriminating information. Bondi countered by labeling Massie a "failed politician" with "Trump derangement syndrome" and questioning his past demands for transparency.
Democrats framed the hearing around claims of DOJ weaponization against Trump's opponents, including investigations into figures like James Comey and Letitia James, some of which were later dismissed by courts. Bondi rejected these premises, accusing Democrats of mischaracterizing actions and prioritizing spectacle. "The American people are smarter than that," she said. "And they see through their theatrics."
The hearing underscored deep partisan divides, with Republicans yielding time to Bondi and Democrats interrupting to reclaim theirs, reflecting broader conflicts over the DOJ's independence during Bondi's one-year tenure.
