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By Mandy Taheri
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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faced renewed calls for impeachment after a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday when she repeatedly clashed with Democrats.
Why It Matters
Bondi has faced pressure over the government's handling of files associated with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. On Wednesday, she was questioned by the House Judiciary Committee about the matter in an oversight hearing on Capitol Hill.
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In recent weeks, some House Democrats have floated impeachment as a possible response to Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files. In February, Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, said he plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Bondi.
Multiple prominent figures in various industries have been named in a series of released documents relating to Epstein. Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published more than 3 million pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November. The tranche of documents includes 2,000 videos and 180,000 images making the total production nearly 3.5 million pages released, in compliance with the act.
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What To Know
Some Democrats have been pushing for formal impeachment action against Bondi for months, an effort that sharpened after Wednesday’s combative hearing in which Bondi faced bipartisan blowback over the department’s rollout of Epstein-related records.
During the hearing, Bondi addressed survivors during her opening statement, saying she was “deeply sorry” for what they suffered and that “any accusations of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously and investigated.”
With Epstein survivors seated behind her, Bondi repeatedly tried to redirect questioning away from the file-release controversy and toward a broader defense of Trump and her argument that the administration is working to restore from "years of bloated bureaucracy and political weaponization.”
She also traded barbs with Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who had pushed for the initial file releases, calling him a “hypocrite” with “Trump derangement syndrome.”
As per prediction market Kalshi, on Wednesday, Bondi had a 12 percent chance of being the first to leave the Cabinet. By Thursday, her odds had increased to 22 percent. Meanwhile, Polymarket said she had a 52 percent chance of leaving the Cabinet, a 7 percent increase from Wednesday.
Users on X, including politicians, called for Bondi to be removed from her post.
What People Are Saying
Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, in a February 2 press release: "The Department of Justice’s role is to uphold the rule of law impartially and protect the American people, but time and time again, Attorney General Pam Bondi has placed her loyalty to President Trump over her constitutional duty. From illegally withholding the Epstein files past the required deadline, to trying to coerce Minnesota into turning over its state voter files, to weaponizing the Department of Justice against Donald Trump’s political opponents, she has disgraced the office she holds. Congress must use every tool of accountability to uphold our oath to defend the Constitution."
**President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post on Thursday: "**AG Pam Bondi, under intense fire from the Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics, was fantastic at yesterday’s Hearing on the never ending saga of Jeffrey Epstein, where the one thing that has been proven conclusively, much to their chagrin, was that President Donald J. Trump has been 100% exonerated of their ridiculous Russia, Russia, Russia type charges. Actually, it is the SLIMEBALL Democrats, many of them big Donors and Politicians, that have been proven GUILTY! 'Republican' Loser, Sanctimonious RINO Congressman, Thomas Massie, made a total fool of himself yesterday, fighting aimlessly against a hopeless agenda of Hate and Stupidity, as most clearly stated by his crashing Job Approval Numbers in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, where a Military Hero Opponent, Ed Gallrein, is crushing him in the Polls. He is now in 'Wacky' Liz Cheney territory! Nobody cared about Epstein when he was alive, they only cared about him when they thought he could create Political Harm to a very popular President who has brought our Country back from the brink of extinction, and very quickly, at that! In fact, this attempt by the Democrats to take away attention from tremendous Republican SUCCESS is backfiring badly. Maybe they should focus on their quest to Open our Borders to the World’s Greatest Criminals, have Transgender for Everybody or, get Men, no matter their size or strength, to play in Women’s Sports. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Saikat Chakrabarti, a Democratic candidate running for a U.S. House seat in California, on X on Wednesday: "This is actually Trump’s message: The stock market is doing well, so we don’t have to prosecute pedophiles. Bondi is covering for the most heinous criminals. Impeach her. Make every Republican try defending this."
Derek Kitchen, a Democrat running for a U.S. House seat in Utah, on X on Wednesday: "Pam Bondi’s recent actions raise serious concerns about transparency, and lying under oath. She needs to resign or face impeachment.
Hartzell Gray, a Democratic running for a U.S. House seat in Missouri, on X on Wednesday: "I am angry, disgusted, and mark my words, on DAY 1, as your congressperson, I will introduce Articles of Impeachment against Secretary Pam Bondi, and this entire pedophile-enabling-predator-protecting administration. Prosecutions and Nuremberg style trials for everyone involved is the bare minimum."
Jennifer Jenkins, a Democrat running for a U.S. House seat in Florida, on X on Thursday: "IMPEACH AND CONVI(C)T PAM BONDI."
What Happens Next
If lawmakers pursue the effort, they would first need to introduce articles of impeachment.
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