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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

'Washed up, loser lawyer': Pam Bondi lashes out at Democrats in Epstein files hearing

Pam Bondi lashed out at Democratic lawmakers in a fiery House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, calling one senior member a “washed up, loser lawyer” as tempers flared over the release of files linked to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Attorney General appeared before the panel after the Justice Department (DOJ) published millions of pages tied to the prosecution of the late sex offender. Bondi clashed repeatedly with Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and other Democrats. Several of Epstein’s victims were also present in the hearing room.

Democrats accused Bondi of failing to protect victims and of releasing documents that revealed some of their identities, while hiding the names of powerful people linked to Epstein. Raskin questioned her about whether any of Epstein’s alleged associates would face charges. He also asked Chairman Jim Jordan to give more speaking time to retiring Congressman Jerry Nadler after Bondi did not clearly answer the question.

“You can let her filibuster all day long, but not on our watch — not on our time, no way,” Raskin said. “And I told you about that, attorney general, before you started.”

“You don’t tell me anything,” Bondi shot back, before calling him a “washed up, loser lawyer — not even a lawyer.”

She then turned on Nadler, accusing Democrats of pursuing partisan attacks against US President Donald Trump. “You said the president conspired, sought foreign interference in the 2016 election. Robert Mueller found no evidence, none, of foreign interference in 2016. Have you apologized to President Trump?

“You all should be apologizing. You sit here and you attack the president, and I am not going to have it. I’m not going to put up with it,” she continued.

Bondi also criticised Democrats for their past "silence" on Epstein. “None of them asked Merrick Garland, over the last four years, one word about Jeffrey Epstein. How ironic is that? You know why? Because Donald Trump.”

Democrats and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie questioned whether the Justice Department was protecting powerful people linked to the case. In response, Bondi said some Democrats had ties to Epstein for years before his 2019 arrest, even after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor.

US Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett had exchanged texts with Epstein during a 2019 hearing involving Michael Cohen. Her office later said she received messages from various members of the public, “including from Epstein”.

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