U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal shared a clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live! on social media on highlighting comments about Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.
In the segment, Kimmel said Bondi “put on a nearly five-hour Karen-thon” during her hearing and described a photograph of a folder labeled “Jayapal Pramila, search history.” Kimmel said the folder appeared to show Jayapal’s searches in files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which members of Congress are allowed to review in a private Department of Justice room.
Pam Bondi brought a document to the Judiciary Committee today that had my search history of the Epstein files on it.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) February 12, 2026
The DOJ is spying on members of Congress. It’s a disgrace and I won’t stand for it. pic.twitter.com/aK07guAZhI
Jayapal wrote on social media alongside the clip: “The Trump Administration is spending more time investigating the people who are reading the Epstein files than the people who are implicated in the Epstein files.” Kimmel made a similar point in his monologue, saying the Department of Justice monitoring congressional searches was “deeply disturbing.”
The Trump Administration is spending more time investigating the people who are reading the Epstein files than the people who are implicated in the Epstein files. pic.twitter.com/iyIOocQmW4
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) February 22, 2026
The episode comes after House Judiciary Democrats sent a February 13 letter to Bondi accusing the Justice Department of spying on lawmakers reviewing the Epstein files. The letter demanded that the practice stop, called for new protocols, and requested full access to unredacted files.
Lawmakers from both parties criticized the tracking of congressional searches in the Epstein database. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, told reporters he had not seen evidence of the alleged monitoring but said it would be inappropriate if true. Johnson said, “I’m not gonna comment on an allegation that is unsubstantiated. I don’t know anything about that…But that would be inappropriate if it happened.” Separately, a top House Democrat said the allegations warranted a watchdog investigation.
Q: Rep. Jayapal accused the DOJ of tracking her search history. Is that appropriate conduct?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2026
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that
Q: Bondi had a piece of paper with Jayapal's search history
JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that but it would be inappropriate if it… pic.twitter.com/6Sy7T2qSYF
The House Judiciary Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Bondi’s office did not reply to messages seeking clarification on the photograph or the handling of congressional searches, yet.
