House hearing erupts as Bondi clashes with lawmakers

Lawyer Common Pam Bondi spoke to members of the Home Judiciary Committee Wednesday throughout a tense listening to as she sought to defend the Justice Division’s dealing with of the Jeffrey Epstein information and push again on Democrats’ accusations of so-called “weaponization” throughout the division.

Bondi’s look earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee was her first since her appointment final 12 months as the highest U.S. legislation enforcement official. A lot of the listening to shortly descended into chaos and shouting, as Democrats targeted on Bondi’s actions, and as Bondi doubled down on the division’s choices below her watch. Typically she responded with barbs of her personal.

Listed below are the 5 greatest takeaways and most heated discussions from the sharp-elbowed viewers.

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Lawyer Common Pam Bondi testifies earlier than a Home Judiciary Committee listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (AP Picture/Tom Brenner)

1. Ted Lieu accuses Bondi of mendacity below oath

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused Bondi of mendacity below oath about an alleged witness assertion that he mentioned confirmed President Donald Trump had been accused of rape, saying, “You simply lied below oath.”

“By no means accuse me of against the law!” Bondi fired again: the alternate descended into chaos, with Home Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan struggling to revive order.

“That is so ridiculous,” Bondi mentioned in response. “And so they’re making an attempt to deflect from all the good issues Donald Trump has finished. There isn’t a proof that Donald Trump dedicated against the law; everybody is aware of that!”

2. ‘Flip round… and apologize’

Rep. Pramila Jayapal urged Democrats to “keep sturdy” amid the federal authorities shutdown. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)

Some of the shared moments got here throughout a dialog with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who demanded that Bondi flip round and apologize to the Epstein survivors sitting behind her within the Home gallery for publishing paperwork that might not have their names redacted.

“Would you please flip to the survivors… and apologize?” Jayapal requested, accusing the division of exacerbating their trauma. Bondi refused and commenced citing the previous authorities’s actions earlier than Jayapal intervened.

“This isn’t about anybody who got here earlier than you. That is about you taking duty to your Division of Justice and the hurt it has finished to the survivors who’re proper behind you ready so that you can flip to them and apologize,” Jayapal mentioned.

“I am not going to the gutter for her theatrics,” she shot again, earlier than muttering moments later: “Unprofessional.”

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3. Massie, Bondi spat

Notably, some Republicans additionally requested Bondi powerful questions, largely targeted on the dealing with and publication of the Epstein information.

Amongst them was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who criticized the redactions that occurred below Bondi’s watch.

Massie famous that in his opinion, the DOJ “over-redacted” sure info that may very well be probably incriminating, whereas failing to redact the names of the victims.

“This cover-up spans a long time, and you’re chargeable for this a part of it,” he informed her.

In response, Bondi shot again that Massie was a “failed politician” with “Trump derangement syndrome.”

Home Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, intervened a number of occasions as members sparred over process and “getting again” time.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan seems on throughout a Home Judiciary Committee listening to within the Rayburn Home workplace constructing. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)

4. Bondi confirms prison referral for perjury in opposition to Brennan

Bondi confirmed that she had obtained a prison referral from the Home Judiciary Committee alleging that former CIA Director John Brennan had lied to Congress.

The information got here throughout a dialog with Jordan, who requested Bondi if Brennan can be charged.

The referral comes because the Justice Division has been investigating Brennan and others for months over the origins of the 2016 Russia investigation — an investigation that Democrats have labeled politically motivated.

“What I can verify is that now we have obtained a referral from you, Chairman Jordan, to analyze John Brennan,” Bondi mentioned, in response to Jordan’s query about whether or not Brennan can be charged.

She added: “What I’ll say as we speak, I can’t verify or deny whether or not there’s an ongoing investigation, however what I’ll say [is] that nobody is above the legislation. The armament has ended.”

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Lawyer Common Pam Bondi will maintain a press convention on the Division of Justice on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)

5. Nadler tangles with Bondi

At one level, Rep. Jerry Nadler (DN.Y.) requested Bondi instantly what number of of Epstein’s co-conspirators had been indicted by the Justice Division below her watch.

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“What number of Epstein co-conspirators have you ever indicted? What number of perpetrators are you even investigating?” Nadler requested.

Bondi didn’t present a quantity. As an alternative, she shifted the main focus to criticism of previous impeachment proceedings and reiterated that the division would examine credible proof introduced.

Nadler interjected sharply: “The reply is zero.”