Rep. Jasmine Crockett delivered a blistering rebuke of Attorney General Pam Bondi during a House oversight hearing examining the Justice Department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing the department of obstructing justice and prioritizing political loyalty over constitutional duty. The tense exchange unfolded as lawmakers questioned Bondi about prosecutorial decisions, transparency surrounding Epstein-related records, and broader concerns about the department’s direction under her leadership.
Crockett, a Texas Democrat, began her allotted time by announcing that she would not pose questions to Bondi, asserting that the attorney general had demonstrated no intention of answering them directly. Instead, Crockett turned to fellow Democratic Rep. Becca Balint and asked a series of blunt moral questions.
“Right or wrong, raping children?” Crockett asked. “Wrong,” Balint replied.
“Right or wrong, killing random citizens?” – “Definitely wrong.”
“Right or wrong, enriching yourself as the sitting President of the United States?” – “Definitely wrong.”
Crockett said she likely would not have received such clear answers from Bondi. She criticized the attorney general’s approach to testimony, arguing that witnesses are expected to respond directly to lawmakers’ questions rather than deflect them. Referencing legal procedure, Crockett noted that attorneys often object to answers as “non-responsive” when a witness fails to address what was asked.
The Texas lawmaker then turned to President Donald Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Crockett said she did not know what involvement, if any, the president may have had with Epstein but maintained that “facts matter.” She asserted that Trump’s name appears multiple times in Epstein-related files and referenced documents she said described interactions involving Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking offenses.
“I’m not saying the President is a pedophile,” Crockett said, adding that the files suggested he had longstanding ties to individuals later convicted of sex crimes. She characterized the administration’s handling of the Epstein matter as a “cover-up” and said the Justice Department was “complicit.”
Crockett: Now, I'm not saying that the president is a pedophile, but there is a lot of evidence in these files that he is very close friends with a lot of men who are pedophiles. pic.twitter.com/nSSGM9cxWp
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 11, 2026
Beyond the Epstein case, Crockett raised additional allegations, including claims that the department had attempted to obstruct investigations, improperly seized voter data and shut down inquiries involving federal officials. She also referenced concerns about potential financial benefits to the president, citing the Constitution’s prohibition on a president receiving payments beyond a fixed salary while in office.
Crockett: You will be remembered as one of the worst attorney generals in history, an attorney general who has prioritized obstruction of justice, corruption over the law, fealty to the president over loyalty to the constitution. pic.twitter.com/Wy647BYwXs
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 11, 2026
“The fact of the matter is that you will be remembered as one of the worst Attorneys General in history—an Attorney General who prioritized obstruction over justice, corruption over the law, fealty to the President over loyalty to the Constitution,” Crockett said before yielding her time.
After Crockett concluded, Rep. Eric Schmidt, a Republican from Kansas and a former state attorney general, recognized Bondi and asked whether she wished to respond. Bondi said she found it notable that Crockett declined to ask direct questions and accused her of failing to address other issues raised during the hearing. She referenced individuals convicted of violent crimes and sexual assault who were present and said they had not been acknowledged.
Crockett to Bondi: Convict some of these perpetrators that raped these women that are sitting behind you that you refuse to even acknowledge. pic.twitter.com/nlkHhiZp8P
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 11, 2026
As Bondi continued, Crockett interrupted: “Convict some of these perpetrators that raped these women that are sitting behind you that you refuse to even acknowledge.”
The exchange highlighted the deep partisan divide surrounding the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related records and broader questions about prosecutorial priorities. With continued public scrutiny of the Epstein case and ongoing political debate over transparency and accountability, the hearing reflected the high political stakes tied to one of the most scrutinized justice matters in recent years.
