Democrats’ emotional appeal for recognition of Epstein’s victims
House Judiciary Committee hearings featured heated arguments between Democrats and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said he doesn’t trust Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- Massey criticized Bondi’s combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on the Jeffrey Epstein file.
- The congressman singled out Bondi and accused the Justice Department of failing to hold the Justice Department accountable.
- Massey also said it was “cold” that Bondi refused to look at Epstein’s survivors during the hearing.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said he doesn’t trust Attorney General Pam Bondi, especially after her belligerent behavior on the House Judiciary Committee.
Massey told ABC News’ “This Week” on Feb. 15 that he did not approve of Bondi’s actions and response when asked about the Justice Department’s release of files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a Feb. 11 hearing. During the hearing, Mr. Bondi and Mr. Massey had an unusually acrimonious exchange for two Republicans.
“I don’t think she did very well,” Massey told “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “She brought a book full of insults to each member of Congress. She obviously had one for me.”
Mr. Raddatz asked Mr. Massey, who represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District and co-authored legislation requiring the release of the Epstein files, whether he trusted Mr. Bondi.
“I don’t think Pam Bondi has confidence in Pam Bondi,” Massey replied. “She didn’t have enough confidence to do anything other than name names at the hearing. So, no, I don’t trust her. She doesn’t have any accountability at the Department of Justice.”
Massie responds to heated exchange with Bondi
Massey’s ABC television interview came just days after Bondi said during a hearing that Massey suffered from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and referred to President Donald Trump as a “failed politician.”
Massey, who opposes the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” bill and is a known enemy of Trump, faces key challenges from Ed Gallein, a Trump supporter, and fellow Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr.
Bondi’s explosive hearing on February 11 came after the Justice Department released more than 3 million pages from Epstein’s files. The latest release sparked criticism and resignations around the world.
Among the powerful American figures identified in the latest documents is Hollywood mogul Casey Wasserman, chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, who announced he would sell his eponymous talent agency. In a staff memo provided to USA TODAY, Wasserman wrote that he “became a distraction.”
During an appearance on “This Week,” Massey told Raddatz that her fellow committee members did not get the answers they wanted from Bondi about the Epstein file during testimony.
“No, but she went off script and had a conversation with me about the production of this document, and 40 minutes after I pointed out to the Department of Justice that some documents were over-redacted, she admitted that they had produced a document that was not redacted,” Massey said. “So it’s clear they made a mistake in the documentation.”
Massey said the files included documents naming billionaire businessman Les Wexner as a possible co-conspirator of Epstein. However, Bondi did not reveal the name of the person who redacted Wexner’s name.
“At least she’s tacitly acknowledging that,” Massey said. “And it’s clear their work isn’t done here yet.”
Ms. Raddatz then asked about the fact that Ms. Bondi did not look at the Epstein survivors behind her during her testimony.
“I think it was a little cold on her part,” Massey said. “I think she was scared.”
Massey said the survivors want to meet with the Justice Department.
“This is not about Bill Clinton, this is not about Donald Trump. This Epstein File Transparency Act is about giving justice to these survivors,” Massey said. “We have some transparency, but it’s called the Department of Justice, not the Office of Transparency.”
