Epstein survivor criticizes Pam Bondi over Capitol Hill testimony: 'We want it to end'

WASHINGTON, DC: Epstein survivor Jess Michaels sharply condemned the DOJ’s handling of Epstein files after Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11.

Survivors who attended the hearing said they felt "ignored" and "degraded" during the contentious session. Lawmakers questioned Bondi for more than five hours, pressing her on redactions in released files and the department’s treatment of survivors. The hearing became heated as Democrats and Republicans clashed over responsibility and transparency.

Jess Michaels criticizes Bondi after Capitol hearing

During Bondi’s testimony, Democratic lawmakers asked Epstein survivors to stand and respond to questions about the DOJ’s handling of the files. Survivors were instructed to raise their hands to register their responses.

In some instances, Democrats pressed Bondi to directly apologize to survivors, highlighting her accountability. Bondi instead criticized the administrations of Joe Biden and previous presidents over their handling of the Epstein case.

She repeatedly accused Democrats of focusing on the files to deflect attention from President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce crime. Reacting afterward, Michaels told CBS News, “The complete lack of care for survivors is… I’m speechless.”

When asked what she made of Bondi’s explanation, Michaels responded, “She said she was sorry that the information got out there because of their lack of time. That and psychology. That’s an anti-apology. That’s not a real apology. She had the opportunity to turn around and say, I’m sorry for the damage done. She had that opportunity.”

Michaels also raised concerns about the redactions in the released documents. “The other thing is that they seem to be really meticulous about the predators’ names being covered,” she said.

Asked whether she got any answers from the hearing, Michaels replied, “Oh, I got clarity that I want to sit down with Pam Bondi. I want to talk to her about the fact that I can’t find a 302 anywhere in any of the files. A message got back to members that have looked at the files, and they can’t find a victim statement for me anywhere.”

Epstein survivors challenge Bondi over DOJ handling

Michaels further added, “We are not just here for ourselves and what happened in the past. It should be corrected now with this DOJ, because this is the one that has all the power right now. And we’re doing it so that nothing like this ever happens again. This circus should never happen again."

She concluded by saying that, "The people that are in power that have been abusing this system, this shouldn’t be happening, and we want it to end.” Referring to Bondi’s statement that investigations were on her desk, Michaels said, “Good. We’re going to hold her to them.”

Six survivors of Epstein’s abuse and two members of another accuser’s family said they felt “degraded” during the hearing, in which Bondi refused to face them and apologize. “There was such a lack of empathy today. There was such a lack of, honestly, humanity today,” Epstein survivor Dani Bensky told on NBC.

In one of the many heated exchanges, Rep. Thomas Massie, questioned into Bondi over the number of redactions in the released files, including blacking out the name of billionaire Les Wexner, whom the FBI once referred to as an Epstein co-conspirator.

Bondi responded by attacking Massie, who co-authored the law compelling the DOJ to release the files, as having “Trump derangement syndrome.”