If you thought today’s congressional hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi was about transparency and accountability, think again.
What unfolded was not testimony. It was deflection, hostility, and political theater at the expense of Epstein’s victims and the American people.
Let’s break down what actually happened.
Jasmine Crockett Says What Others Won’t
Rep. Jasmine Crockett looked Bondi directly in the eye and said:
“I’m not saying the president is a pedophile, but there is a lot of evidence in these files that suggest that he is very close friends with a lot of men who are pedophiles.”
Bondi’s response?
Just silence.
From Epstein to… Border Patrol?
When Rep. Becca Balint pressed Bondi, instead of answering, Bondi attacked her for representing a “tiny state.”
Then, in the middle of questions about the Epstein files, Bondi pivoted to talking about Border Patrol agent Chris Maland, who was tragically killed a year ago during a traffic stop.
As Democrats asked about victims and accountability, Bondi started talking about the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
You read that correctly.
The Dow.
Jared Moskowitz Brings the Receipts
Then came Rep. Jared Moskowitz.
And it was brutal.
He said:
“Trump’s name appears more times in the Epstein Files than God’s name appears in the book about God. Trump’s name also appears more times in the Epstein Files than Harry Potter’s name appears in the 7 books about Harry Potter.”
It was biting, but the underlying point was serious: Donald Trump’s documented proximity to Jeffrey Epstein is not a conspiracy theory. It’s in the files.
Moskowitz then laid out connections between Howard Lutnick and Epstein, pressing Bondi for answers.
Bondi had none.
Deborah Ross Raises Ghislaine Maxwell
Rep. Deborah Ross asked about Ghislaine Maxwell being transferred to what critics have called the “country club of prisons” by the Bureau of Prisons, which operates under Bondi’s Department of Justice.
Instead of answering, Bondi tried to pivot to an unrelated line of questioning.
Again: deflection.
Jayapal Asks the Question That Matters
Rep. Pramila Jayapal cut to the heart of it:
“Will you turn to the survivors now and apologize for what your DOJ has put them through with the absolutely unacceptable release of the Epstein Files and their private information?”
Bondi’s response?
She refused to apologize.
She attacked Merrick Garland.
Then said:
“I’m not going to get in the gutter.”
Here’s the reality:
Asking for accountability for victims of sex trafficking is not “the gutter.”
Refusing to answer legitimate oversight questions is.
This Was an Embarrassment
If you watched this hearing and felt satisfied.
Her job is not to spar with lawmakers.
It’s not to pivot to stock market numbers.
It’s not to relitigate partisan grievances.
Her job is to answer.
Today, she didn’t.
And the American people deserve better.
