US Attorney General Bondi exchanges insults with Democrats in Epstein hearing

US Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed combatively with Democrats at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

With victims of Epstein seated behind her in the hearing room, Bondi defended her department's handling of the files and accused Democrats of using them to distract from US President Donald Trump's successes.

But Democrat Dan Goldman then asked the victims to stand and raise their hands if they had tried to speak with the Department of Justice and got no response.

"How many of you have reached out, either individually or through a lawyer or representative, to offer to provide testimony and evidence?"

"All of them."

"And those of you, all of you who have reached out, how many were denied or ignored by the Department of Justice?"

"All of them."

"And despite the shameful and despicable efforts by Ms. Bondi and her department, to intimidate you, how many of you are still willing to speak to the Department of Justice?"

"All of them."

"Well Ms. Bondi, it looks like you have some more witnesses to talk to, and I yield back."

Bondi, for her part, repeatedly deflected questions from Democrats, responding instead with attacks and sought to cast them as disinterested in violence in their own districts.