The combative hearing that led to Pam Bondi’s downfall

Politics
3 Apr 2026 • 2:36 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered an evasive performance at a congressional hearing about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation weeks before President Donald Trump fired her as attorney general.
  • Victims of convicted sex offender Epstein were at the hearing and stood up and raised their hands to indicate that they’d been unable to meet with Bondi’s DOJ.
  • Bondi refused to acknowledge or apologize to the victims, instead deflecting questions to a previous attorney general and dismissing concerns as “theatrics.”
  • “The Dow is over $50,000!” she yelled at one point, before adding, “I don’t know why you’re laughing! You’re a great stock trader, as I hear, [Rep.] Raskin… That’s what we should be talking about!”
  • She refused to answer even basic “yes” or “no” questions, instead insisting that she’d “said it all before” in a painful, eye-opening performance believed to be a big factor in her dismissal.

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