Washington: Republican Representative Thomas Massie revealed his lack of confidence in Attorney General Pam Bondi after a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing concerning the Justice Department's release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Anadolu Agency, Massie voiced his concerns during an interview on ABC News' 'This Week,' where he criticized Bondi's performance during the hearing. He remarked, "I don't think she did very well," and accused her of coming prepared with a "book full of insults, one for each congressperson." Massie's dissatisfaction stems from Bondi's alleged lack of accountability within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The contentious hearing took place following the DOJ's release of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related files. Massie criticized Bondi for her refusal to acknowledge Epstein's survivors seated behind her, labeling her actions as "cold." This occurred after Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal asked the survivors to raise their hands if they had not met with the DOJ, to which all present responded by raising their hands.
Massie expressed concerns over the DOJ's handling of the documents, accusing them of exposing victim identities while excessively redacting information related to powerful men and potential co-conspirators. He emphasized, "It's clear that their work is not done here yet."
Further concerns were raised by Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna regarding an undated document listing names and photographs. Massie later shared a version with 16 additional unredacted names, stating that the DOJ had "promptly unredacted" them. Khanna disclosed some of the names on the House floor and criticized redactions involving other prominent figures.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded, claiming Massie and Khanna "forced the unmasking of completely random people selected years ago for an FBI lineup." Despite the DOJ's actions, Massie remains dissatisfied, arguing that names were unredacted without context.
The release of the extensive materials, including photos, grand jury transcripts, and investigative records, occurred under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last November. These documents provide insights into Epstein's connections with various influential figures worldwide. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.