Inside the Heat of Bondi's Epstein Testimony: Key Takeaways

Fri Feb 13 2026 02:32:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Pam Bondi's testimony regarding the Epstein case sparked intense debate during a congressional hearing. Key moments included her defense of the justice department's actions and sharp exchanges with lawmakers.

During a heated four-hour congressional hearing, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faced tough questions regarding the handling of Jeffrey Epstein's case. With victims present, Bondi defended the justice department amidst accusations of poor redaction practices and verbal confrontations with lawmakers. Notable exchanges included a bipartisan critique of the justice department's file management and calls for accountability in redacted names, including that of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, amidst a tense atmosphere.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the justice department's handling of the Epstein files and faced a barrage of angry questions on other issues during a fiery congressional hearing on Wednesday.

Her testimony before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee descended at times into a shouting match, with Bondi at one point calling a Democrat a washed up loser and, after another heated exchange, one lawmaker even stormed out.

Here are some of the key exchanges from the four-hour hearing.

1. Epstein victims watch as Bondi defends redactions

The hearing followed the release by the justice department earlier this year of millions more files from its investigations into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Several of Epstein's victims were at the hearing, and lawmakers as well as Bondi frequently referenced them.

In her opening statement, Bondi called Epstein a monster and expressed sorrow for the victims' suffering. However, she faced criticism regarding the handling of the files, particularly accusations of improper redactions that exposed victim identities and images that should have remained confidential.

2. Republicans join in over Epstein complaints

The hearing turned tense over names in the Epstein files that had been redacted. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers accused the justice department of improperly removing names, leading Bondi to defend her and her team's actions vehemently.

3. Lawmaker asks about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The mention of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor incited discussions about available photographs and the lack of prosecution related to his involvement with Epstein. Bondi directed further inquiries to previous officials rather than addressing them directly.

4. Democrats push for Minneapolis investigation

Besides the Epstein files, the hearing also addressed federal immigration agents’ actions in Minneapolis, where questions were raised about their response to violent incidents. Bondi defended the federal government despite bipartisan criticism.