A House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi turned chaotic on Wednesday, ending with lesbian Vermont Democrat Becca Balint walking out after a heated exchange over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Tensions had been building for hours as Democrats accused Bondi of deflecting questions and avoiding direct answers about whether powerful officials named in newly released Epstein materials had been scrutinized. Republicans defended Bondi, calling Democratic criticism political theater.
As Balint’s questioning period ended, the exchange intensified. Bondi accused the congresswoman of contributing to what she called an “anti-Semitic culture,” prompting an emotional response from Balint, who is Jewish and out lesbian. Balint cut in sharply, saying, “Oh, really? Do you want to go there, attorney general?…Talking about anti-Semitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust?” Shortly after, Balint stood and exited the hearing room.
Earlier in the proceedings, Democrats had pressed Bondi on whether officials whose names have surfaced in connection with Epstein, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg, had been questioned. Bondi declined to offer direct yes-or-no answers, saying some individuals had addressed those ties themselves. The clash capped a day marked by sharp partisan divisions, as lawmakers also pointed to survivors seated behind Bondi and renewed calls for transparency, accountability, and direct engagement from the Justice Department.
