Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., asked Attorney General Pam Bondi in an oversight hearing Wednesday to apologize to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse.
Watch the clip in the video player above.
In a heated exchange, Jayapal asked Bondi to turn to the survivors in attendance “and apologize for what your Department of Justice has put them through with the absolutely unacceptable release of the Epstein files and their information.”
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What followed was minutes of crosstalk and argument between Jayapal, Bondi, committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
In her final seconds, Jayapal reiterated she believes the release of the Epstein files has been “a massive cover up.”
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The Department of Justice has released millions of pages of Epstein-related documents, photographs and messages. But it missed its deadline by more than a month, and the releases have been mired by missed redactions and accusations of key omissions. Millions of pages related to the investigation into the late convicted sex offender remain inaccessible, though the White House defends its review as thorough and complete.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has demanded more transparency, accusing the government of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in November, and survivors released a Super Bowl ad telling Bondi “it’s time for the truth.”
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