U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faced intense scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers during a congressional hearing on February 11, 2026, as tensions flared over questions about the Department of Justice's handling of cases linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and former President Donald Trump.
Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) pressed Bondi on whether underage girls attended parties involving Trump and Epstein, prompting Bondi to dismiss the inquiry as "ridiculous" and praise Trump's presidency as "transparent." Lieu later accused Bondi of lying under oath, citing unaddressed FBI reports and demanding her resignation over perceived inaction on sex trafficking cases.
The hearing grew increasingly combative when Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) questioned Bondi about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's admitted post-2005 meetings with Epstein. Balint criticized the DOJ's reluctance to investigate officials tied to Epstein, leading to a heated exchange. Bondi defended Lutnick, stating he had "addressed those ties himself" during prior testimony.
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) further escalated tensions by demanding an apology to Epstein survivors for the DOJ's handling of the case, which Bondi refused, calling the request "theatrics."
The five-hour hearing highlighted stark partisan divides, with Republicans focusing on election integrity and federal fraud, while Democrats prioritized accountability for Epstein-linked investigations and fatal shootings involving immigration agents.
