CNN host Erin Burnett captured the secondhand embarrassment felt by many viewers as she reacted to Attorney General Pam Bondi's tumultuous appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing, held on Wednesday, focused on the Justice Department's controversial handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, including a recent batch that exposed sensitive victim information and raised safety concerns.
Bondi's Defensive Outbursts Stun Observers
During the questioning, Bondi avoided accountability for her department's actions, instead launching into a series of unhinged outbursts directed at Democratic lawmakers. In a montage aired on Burnett's show "OutFront," key clips showcased Bondi's aggressive behavior, including calling Representative Jamie Raskin a "washed-up, loser lawyer" and snapping at Representative Ted Lieu after he suggested she lied under oath.
CNN Reporter Highlights Unprecedented Behavior
CNN reporter Paula Reid, who has covered congressional hearings for over a decade, remarked to Burnett that she had "never seen anything like that" in terms of Bondi's conduct. Burnett, shaking her head in disbelief, responded, "I mean ... just incredible to watch all of that." She added, "As you said, 10 years of covering it, and just ... wow," appearing at a loss for words as she lowered her head.
Contentious Exchange Over Trump and Epstein
The hearing grew particularly heated when Lieu questioned Bondi about whether former President Donald Trump had ever attended a party with Epstein involving underaged girls. Bondi dismissed the query as "ridiculous," asserting that "there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime." Lieu countered by citing a witness statement from a man who claimed to have driven a limo for Trump and reported to the FBI in 2020 that a woman alleged Trump and Epstein raped her.
Lieu demanded that the Department of Justice interview this witness "immediately," though it remains unclear if the tip was ever followed up on. Burnett concluded her segment by noting, "Sometimes there just aren't words for the things we're seeing these days," summarizing the stunned reaction to Bondi's performance.
