Pam Bondi, the US attorney-general, is facing backlash from a group of Jeffrey Epstein victims for ignoring them during a tense session in Congress.
As the country’s leading law enforcement official, Bondi was bombarded with inquiries from Democrats during a congressional hearing on Wednesday regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein documents.
In her initial statements, Bondi expressed that she was “deeply sorry for what any victim has been through” but failed to recognize nearly a dozen Epstein survivors seated behind her.
• Sign up for The Times’s weekly US newsletter
Pramila Jayapal, a Democratic representative from Washington, asked the women to stand and raise their hands if they had not met with the justice department. She then urged Bondi to turn around and apologize for not fully redacting their names when the files were released.
Bondi, who previously served as President Trump’s personal lawyer, refused and later remarked: “I’m not going to get into the gutter for [Jayapal’s] theatrics.”
A photo showing all of the Epstein survivors raising their hands has since gone viral online.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein raise their hands, including Sharlene Rochard, second from left
AP PHOTO/J SCOTT APPLEWHITE
“Bondi didn’t even turn around and acknowledge our existence,” stated Danielle Bensky, who suffered abuse from Epstein as a teenager after the hearing. “We knew this was going to be a tough day, but just not recognizing our basic humanity – I felt pure rage. I could feel myself shaking with anger and frustration. I feel like we’ve been revictimized,” she said. “She’s gaslighting the American people over and over. The Do J needs to do its job: release all the files.”
Sharlene Rochard, one of the survivors at the back of the hearing room, mentioned that she “felt humiliated” and “started to cry at that moment”.
Pam Bondi’s testimony on Wednesday
Anouska de Georgiou, a British victim of both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, noted: “This is bigger than us. When you can’t acknowledge survivors of sex crimes, how do you expect other victims watching to feel safe coming forward?”
Bondi accused Democrats of using what are referred to as the Epstein files as a distraction from Trump’s accomplishments. She also questioned whether Democrats had ever apologized to President Trump for their roles in past impeachment efforts.
The attorney-general has faced significant criticism regarding how she managed the Epstein files since distributing binders containing information from these documents to conservative social media influencers in February last year.
The binders handed out during an event at the White House revealed no new insights about Epstein and intensified calls from Trump supporters for full disclosure of all documents.
A photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor , released in the Epstein files , is displayed before the House judiciary committee on Wednesday
WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES
Since more than three million documents were released by the justice department , Democrats have pressured Bondi to look into alleged co-conspirators named in those files. She assured survivors that “any accusation of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously and investigated”.
Bondi also criticized Thomas Massie , a Republican congressman from Kentucky who helped draft legislation requiring the justice department to disclose records related to its investigation into Epstein.
“This guy has Trump derangement syndrome,” said Bondi about Massie , who criticized how the justice department handled those documents.
• Epstein survivors like me were failed by the FBI
The hearing quickly turned into a partisan shouting match , with Bondi trading insults with Democrats while insisting she wouldn’t stoop down to their level.
In another heated exchange , Jamie Raskin from Maryland called out Bondi for dodging his questions , prompting her to label him as a “washed-up loser lawyer”.
Steve Cohen , a Democratic representative from Tennessee on the judiciary panel , suggested that Bondi’s performance could help strengthen Democrats’ case ahead of midterm elections.
“She did an excellent job in appealing directly to Donald Trump , and it was [for] … one-person audience : Donald Trump,” Cohen said , adding that this hearing provided insight into what the justice department isn’t doing correctly.
Source link
A photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor , released in the Epstein files , is displayed before the House judiciary committee on Wednesday
WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES
Since more than three million documents were released by the justice department , Democrats have pressured Bondi to look into alleged co-conspirators named in those files. She assured survivors that “any accusation of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously and investigated”.
Bondi also criticized Thomas Massie , a Republican congressman from Kentucky who helped draft legislation requiring the justice department to disclose records related to its investigation into Epstein.
“This guy has Trump derangement syndrome,” said Bondi about Massie , who criticized how the justice department handled those documents.
• Epstein survivors like me were failed by the FBI
The hearing quickly turned into a partisan shouting match , with Bondi trading insults with Democrats while insisting she wouldn’t stoop down to their level.
In another heated exchange , Jamie Raskin from Maryland called out Bondi for dodging his questions , prompting her to label him as a “washed-up loser lawyer”.
Steve Cohen , a Democratic representative from Tennessee on the judiciary panel , suggested that Bondi’s performance could help strengthen Democrats’ case ahead of midterm elections.
“She did an excellent job in appealing directly to Donald Trump , and it was [for] … one-person audience : Donald Trump,” Cohen said , adding that this hearing provided insight into what the justice department isn’t doing correctly.Source link
