Fact Check: Did Ted Lieu say Epstein paid Pam Bondi's college and law school tuition?

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Amid the controversies surrounding the release of a massive tranche of files related to convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, a rumor has been circulating on social media that Democratic Rep Ted Lieu claimed Epstein paid for Attorney General Pam Bondi's college and law school. Let us fact-check this claim.

Claim: Ted Lieu claimed Jeffrey Epstein paid for Pam Bondi's education

The rumor surfaced this month on social media, claiming that the California representative accused Bondi of having a close connection to the disgraced financier, who even paid for her college and law school.

One such post on Facebook states, “Rep. Ted Lieυ Raises Explosive Qυestioпs Aboυt Pam Boпdi's Alleged Ties to Jeffrey Epsteiп aпd Coпtroversial Legal History.”

"’REPRESENTATIVE TED LIEU’ It appears Epstein paid for Pam Bondi's college and law school tuition so she could work for them. Bondi helped Epstein get acquitted when he was charged with sex crimes in Florida."

"Legally, one could argue she did nothing wrong, but… she knew he was a pimp, and the evidence gathered by the Palm Beach Police Department was overwhelming.”

Fact Check: The claim is fake, made for clickbait

However, there is no evidence that Lieu claimed Epstein paid for Bondi’s educational expenses. Therefore, the claim is false.

Some of these social media posts also included a link to an article with an excessive number of advertisements and pop-ups, indicating it is clickbait.

A Google search did not yield any relevant results; if the claim were true, it would have been widely covered by major news outlets.

Additionally, the images of Lieu and Bondi shouting at each other appear to be digitally manipulated versions of real photographs of them at other hearings.

Heated exchange between Ted Lieu and Pam Bondi

The claim likely stemmed from a heated exchange between the two last month. 

On February 11, a tense confrontation erupted during a congressional hearing when Lieu accused Bondi of lying under oath while questioning her about potential Trump ties referenced in the Epstein files.

Bondi forcefully pushed back, telling Lieu, “Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime,” as the exchange underscored sharp divisions over accountability and the handling of Epstein-related evidence.