A Home Judiciary Committee listening to meant to deal with the Justice Division’s dealing with of the Epstein recordsdata detonated right into a three-minute spectacle of stares, interruptions and barely disguised contempt — with Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi planted on the middle of all of it.
What began as pointed questioning shortly spiraled right into a tense back-and-forth between Bondi, Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington State and the Republican chairman.
All of the whereas, Bondi sat inflexible, arms folding tightly throughout her chest at one level, her expression unreadable. Some viewers known as it “smug.” Others known as it one thing else fully.
The confrontation landed at a flamable second. Public outrage over the division’s dealing with of data tied to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein had already been constructing for weeks.
Critics have accused the Justice Division of botching the rollout of paperwork — first fueling hypothesis a couple of long-rumored “consumer checklist,” then later stating no such checklist had been confirmed — leaving survivors and the general public with extra confusion than readability.
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Survivors and advocates say the discharge uncovered delicate info whereas nonetheless failing to offer significant transparency about highly effective figures related to Epstein’s trafficking operation.
However Tuesday’s flashpoint wasn’t nearly paperwork. It was about presence.
The principle conflict ignited when lawmakers pressed Bondi on her interactions — or lack thereof — with Epstein victims. Video clips from the listening to present the lawyer normal staring straight forward as survivors stood silently behind her, lots of them trafficked as minors and nonetheless searching for accountability from rich, politically related males.
The stress thickened when Jayapal requested the survivors within the room to lift their arms if that they had not been in a position to meet with the Division of Justice. Each hand went up.
Bondi had earlier provided a broad apology in her opening assertion, saying she was “deeply sorry for what any sufferer has been by, particularly because of that monster.”
However Jayapal pressed additional, asking whether or not she would flip round and apologize on to the survivors — not just for Epstein’s crimes, however for what she described because the division’s “completely unacceptable” dealing with of the recordsdata and the discharge of victims’ info.
Bondi tried to pivot.
“Congresswoman, Merrick Garland sat on this chair twice—” she started, referencing her predecessor beneath former President Joe Biden.
Jayapal swiftly reclaimed her time, redirecting the main target again to Bondi’s management. After a quick procedural reminder from the chairman, the change tightened much more when Bondi declined to instantly reply the apology request.
All through the confrontation, Bondi stored her gaze fastened ahead and didn’t acknowledge the survivors standing instantly behind her. In footage of the listening to, somebody seated behind the lawyer normal might be seen sliding her a notice as Jayapal continued urgent — a small second that didn’t go unnoticed as soon as the cameras zoomed in.
Clips of the confrontation tore throughout social media inside minutes — however it wasn’t the shouting or the procedural sparring that really detonated on-line.
It was the images.
“WOW …. BONDI WON’T EVEN LOOK AT EPSTEIN SURVIVORS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PRESENCE,” the X consumer who shared video of the change wrote.
“Brutal image,” one other added, predicting the picture would stay on far past the listening to. “Limitless advert materials for the midterms and past.”
However one body particularly despatched the web into overdrive.
As photographers zoomed in, a survivor instantly behind Bondi may very well be seen locking eyes on the lawyer normal — a stare so sharp it appeared to slice straight by the stone-faced composure Bondi had maintained for 3 minutes straight. On-line, viewers dissected the picture in actual time.
“What a f***ing phenomonal and historic SHOT!!!!!” praised one other.
“I believe she might dislike Bondi greater than I do. The look the Epstein sufferer is giving Pam Bondi says all of it.”
Others centered on Bondi’s expressions and actions. “I’ve by no means seen a grown ass girl act like such a despicable piece of trash. I don’t see how she thinks this will probably be a constructive for her,” one X consumer wrote.
One other added, “To be honest, she is rightly ashamed to look them within the eye as a result of she is protecting for monsters.”
Bondi’s look got here amid a packed week of oversight hearings on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers additionally weighing a possible Division of Homeland Safety funding lapse, proposed voter identification necessities beneath the SAVE America Act, synthetic intelligence and office security, prescription drug prices, U.S. competitors with China, home vitality coverage and reforms throughout the Veterans Well being Administration.
As Bondi continues to defend her division’s dealing with of Epstein-related supplies, critics contend that the picture of survivors standing with their arms raised whereas the nation’s prime regulation enforcement official refused to show round symbolizes a broader struggle over transparency and accountability in probably the most explosive abuse scandals in trendy American historical past.
