TRUMP IMPEACHMENT LIVE — House of Representatives Decides President Trump's Fate in Historic Vote

[0:01] do you swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is true [0:04] and correct to the best of your knowledge information and beliefs so help you god [0:08] let the record show that the witness has answered in the affirmative thank you you can be seated [0:12] and please know that your written testimony will be entered into the record in its entirely [0:16] entirety accordingly we ask that you summarize uh your testimony madam attorney general you may [0:22] begin thank you thank you chairman jordan ranking member raskin and distinguished members of this [0:29] committee thank you for hosting me here today i'm grateful for the opportunity to answer your [0:35] questions highlight the work of our department and discuss the most important topic of all [0:41] keeping the american people safe a little over a year ago i was sworn into office as the 87th [0:47] attorney general of the united states i came into office with the goal of refocusing the department [0:53] of justice on its core mission after years of bloated bureaucracy and political weaponization [1:00] the department of justice's core mission is to fight violent crime protect the american people [1:08] and defend the rule of law above all else while our work is never done we have made tremendous [1:15] progress to make america safe again in 2025 we saw the lowest murder rate in 125 years [1:25] that's nothing short of historic if you compare 25 to 24 here's what you'll find [1:33] the murder rate is down 21 percent robbery down 23 percent carjacking down 43 percent [1:40] gun assault down 22 percent ag assault burglary could go on and on crime is declining this did [1:49] not happen by accident the numbers tell an important yet straightforward story president [1:56] trump has given us the resources the support and the leadership to protect the american people [2:04] president [2:04] trump's policies have saved lives i cannot think of a policy outcome more important than protecting [2:12] the lives of american citizens can you this trend has been especially clear in washington dc [2:20] and in memphis these are two iconic american cities that spent years in the grip of horrific [2:28] violent crime the department of justice surged law enforcement resources and the results came quickly [2:36] crime plummeted in both cities and i want to make one point loud and clear we achieved those results [2:44] by working with democratic mayors public safety does not have a party registration when your [2:54] constituents call 911 they don't ask for political views of the responding officer [3:00] they ask for help i have federal agents in each and every one of your districts they're here to [3:07] help and i'm here for you [3:09] I am here to help. [3:11] Many cities and states have worked with us [3:14] and taken advantage of our federal support. [3:17] Some have not. [3:19] Meanwhile, a few elected officials have declared [3:21] that they are, quote, at war with the federal government [3:25] and encouraged widespread obstruction of law enforcement. [3:29] This has resulted in avoidable clashes on the streets, [3:33] as you've all seen. [3:35] We've seen rioters storming a Christian church. [3:39] Citizens and law enforcement officers [3:42] have both been endangered by reckless rhetoric. [3:46] We have made dozens of arrests [3:49] in and around Minneapolis so far, [3:52] and many of them could have been avoided [3:54] by simple compliance with federal law. [3:57] Of course, our efforts reach beyond our urban centers. [4:02] We are striking crucial blows [4:05] against terrorist organizations such as MS-13, [4:09] TDA, the Sinaloa Cartel, and Antifa. [4:13] And we are working with the federal government [4:13] to make sure that we protect our citizens. [4:17] And as we sit here, [4:18] I think you've seen the news this morning. [4:20] The news is reporting that cartel drones [4:24] are being shot down by our military. [4:28] That's what we all should care about right now, [4:33] protecting America. [4:35] As we seek to dismantle these drug trafficking networks [4:39] that poison Americans, [4:41] in 2025, our DEA agents seized more than 47 million [4:46] fentanyl pills and more than 9,800 total kilos of fentanyl. [4:55] That represents 369 million potentially deadly doses [5:03] that can kill Americans. [5:06] Meanwhile, our attorneys are fighting [5:08] for President Trump's agenda [5:10] in courtrooms across this country. [5:12] This administration has been sued 627 times. [5:17] We've fought through a nonstop [5:18] flood of bad-faith temporary restraining orders [5:23] from liberal activist judges across this country. [5:26] America has never seen this level [5:29] of coordinated judicial opposition [5:33] towards a presidential administration. [5:37] It is not only an unlawful attack [5:40] on the executive branch's authority, [5:42] but a serious attack on the democratic process. [5:46] In spite of this unprecedented judicial activism, we've, [5:51] in the past, [5:52] obtained 24 favorable rulings at the U.S. Supreme Court, [5:58] their emergency docket, and even more to come. [6:02] We've done so while ending the weaponization [6:04] of the prior administration [6:06] by dropping FASAC prosecutions, [6:08] exposing the Arctic Frost scandal [6:12] via congressional disclosure, thank you, Chairman, [6:15] and restoring one tier of justice in this country. [6:20] To address the Epstein files, [6:23] more than 500 attorneys and reviewers [6:27] spent thousands of hours, painstakingly, [6:29] reviewing millions of pages to comply with Congress's law. [6:34] We've released more than 3 million pages, [6:37] including 180,000 images, all to the public, [6:43] while doing our very best in the timeframe [6:47] allotted by the legislation to protect victims. [6:51] And if you protect the victims, [6:52] we brought us a victim's name [6:54] that was inadvertently released. [6:56] We immediately redacted it. [6:59] All members of Congress, as you know, [7:01] are invited to visit DOJ to see for yourselves. [7:08] I want to take a moment to acknowledge [7:09] the Epstein survivors who are here today. [7:13] I'm a career prosecutor, [7:15] and despite what the ranking member said, [7:19] I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, [7:23] and I will continue to do so. [7:26] I am deeply sorry for what any victim, [7:30] any victim has been through, [7:32] especially as a result of that monster. [7:35] If you have any information to share with law enforcement [7:41] about anyone who has hurt you or abused you, [7:45] the FBI is waiting to hear from you. [7:49] I want you to know that any accusations [7:53] of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously [7:57] and investigated. [7:59] The Department of Justice [8:00] is committed to holding criminals accountable [8:03] to the fullest extent of the law. [8:06] In 2025, the FBI arrested over 1,700 child predators, [8:12] a 10% increase from 2024. [8:15] We also located 2,700 victims of child exploitation [8:22] and shut down 3.8 million dark web pedophile accounts. [8:29] 3.8 million. [8:31] 3.8 million. [8:31] 3.8 million. [8:31] 2.8 million. [8:31] million. So please, if you have information to share that needs to be investigated, contact [8:39] the FBI. Today, I look forward to discussing further our shared obligation to protect the [8:47] American people, uphold the rule of law, and keep this nation safe. Thank you. [8:55] Thank you, Madam Attorney General. We now proceed to the five-minute rule. The chair [8:59] recognizes the gentleman from California for five minutes. [9:01] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam General, thank you for your extensive remarks, particularly [9:08] on your continued investigation of those responsible over the years in the Epstein debacle. Obviously, [9:17] you have an amazingly full docket between civil rights, between criminal, between so-called [9:24] white-collar crime, and doing so, as the chairman said, at a time in which both you and the [9:31] President are under attack. [9:32] And our ICE agents and FBI and others are under attack when they try to enforce law. [9:38] I personally want to apologize for those who would embolden, support, or even stand with [9:48] those lawbreakers that sit on this and other daises here in Congress. My job generally [9:56] is to talk about patents and trademarks, as the chairman of that subcommittee. I'll forego [10:02] that today. [10:04] Because one of my other jobs is the creation and maintenance of Article III judges. And [10:10] I work with the Chief Justice on that, and we're trying to expand the court. But currently, [10:16] there are only 677 district court judges. They have very full dockets as well. But you [10:23] create a tremendous amount of judges, particularly immigration judges. You do so in order to [10:32] save the court that, but adjudicate as the court. [10:34] Thank you. [10:35] I think, in my opinion, you're doing a great job. And I think you're doing a pretty great [10:45] job being an executive. [10:46] You're trying to build the reputation of the people who have been implicated in your [10:53] own business for decades. [10:55] People have been implicated for years. [10:57] People have been implicated for decades. [11:00] And you're making information come from nobody. [11:03] I think that I really respect that. [11:04] Thank you. [11:05] for better or worse the release of millions of people with little pieces of [11:11] paper saying come back later when we call you and often to no avail when you [11:15] call so I want to congratulate you on that because it's an accomplishment you [11:19] might not take credit for and the other side would never give you credit for but [11:26] I hope you can continue to do that and do more and I say so for a reason [11:31] because much of this hearing will be about Minneapolis and other places in [11:38] which the backlog of criminal aliens including in my home state of California [11:43] people who have hurt other people who people who have victimized their [11:47] communities is extensive and although the overall number through adjudication [11:54] may be going on because of places like my home state California you're unable [11:59] to apprehend people that my sheriff's want apprehended they desperately want [12:05] to cooperate and they're prohibited by law [12:08] it is this community that is in need of help and I want to thank you for your [12:09] participation in this hearing and I hope that efforts will continue to shape [12:13] the future of this coalition but in addition to your impact on us and on [12:16] the state as well and I would like to thank the committee's opinion on this [12:20] side of the aisle that in fact you should be given the ability to demand [12:25] that that participation and that the release of a known criminal not be [12:32] considered to be acceptable just because a state or city has declared itself a [12:36] sanctuary I want you to opine on just one thing that I think has been [12:39] adjudicate these cases you also support you also support so many that in fact [12:48] have to make decisions as judges knowing that this limitation of so few article [12:56] three judges are there please educate those who seem to miss the point that [13:01] article one judges including bankruptcy judges including immigration judges [13:06] including lots of people with the title appropriately judge do in fact issue [13:12] documents that look like act like and are normally accepted as warrants as [13:18] subpoenas as demands for state officials to stand aside and allow the production [13:26] of either an individual or documents because I think people are missing the [13:31] point that these ice retainers and detainers and so on they act like [13:36] they're nothing [13:37] you [13:37] when in fact in the ordinary course uh Madam General you do in fact have [13:43] article one judges constantly putting those out and they are respected normally thank [13:53] you Congressman for um for talking about all the the great judges and if I could um add one thing [13:59] to that we are always recruiting and looking for judges so please reach out to our office for these [14:07] judges who are handling all these very important matters where we've even added some Jack [14:12] um Jag officers as immigration judges thank you and so we're continuing [14:17] to do that but we're always seeking qualified lawyers as well to be part of that and thank [14:23] you for highlighting that Congressman thank you yield back book gentleman yields back the gentle [14:27] Lady from Washington's recognized thank you Mr Chairman good morning Attorney General Bondi right [14:33] here we are joined in this room by some of the thousands of survivors from Jeffrey Epstein's [14:40] sex trafficking ring they have shown such incredible courage in speaking out [14:46] in demanding accountability to bring the predators and pedophiles to justice the [14:53] Epstein files transparency Act required your Department of Justice to disclose [14:58] the perpetrators connected with Epstein's criminal activities and to [15:02] redact the information of survivors to protect their identities let me show you [15:08] what actually happened first in violation of the law your department has [15:14] shown a pattern of redacting the names of powerful predators here behind me is [15:20] one example of an email from Epstein to a man whose name was redacted the email [15:27] reads quote where are you are you okay I loved the torture video only after [15:37] members of Congress demanded that we [15:39] see the unredacted files did the world learn the name of this individual Sultan [15:45] Ahmed bin Sulaym the chairman and CEO of a company that had financial ties to [15:52] President Trump's business and personal ties to Trump's advisor Steve Bannon [15:57] second the survivors were not similarly protected also in violation of the law [16:04] here is another email titled Epstein victim list we have blurred the [16:10] names of the survivors for their protection but your Department of [16:13] Justice initially released this list of 32 survivors names with only one name [16:21] redacted along with numerous files that disclose not only the names the emails [16:27] and the addresses of survivors but also nude photographs and even the identities [16:33] of Jane Doe's who had been protected for decades until your department released [16:40] their names survivors are now telling us that their families are finding out for the first [16:45] time that they were trafficked by Epstein in their words quote this release does not provide closure [16:52] it feels like a deliberate attempt to intimidate survivors punish those who came forward and [17:00] reinforce the same culture of secrecy that allowed Epstein's crimes to continue for decades to the [17:08] survivors in the room if you are willing [17:11] please stand and if you are willing please raise your hands if you have still not been able to [17:23] meet with this Department of Justice please know for the record that every single survivor has [17:31] raised their hand Attorney General Bondi you apologize to the survivors in your opening [17:40] statement for what they went through at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein will you turn to them now and [17:47] apologize for what your Department of [17:51] Justice has put them through with the un absolutely unacceptable release of the Epstein files and their [18:01] information Congresswoman you set before Merrick Garland sat in this chair twice Attorney General [18:15] Bondi I'm gonna finish my answer no I'm gonna reclaim my time because I asked you a specific [18:22] question Attorney General that I would like a question to answer which is will you turn to the [18:29] justice this is not about anybody that came before you it is about you taking responsibility for your [18:35] Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you [18:42] and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologize for what your Department of Justice [18:48] members members get to ask the questions the witness gets to answer in the way they want to [18:52] answer the Attorney General that's not accurate Mr Chairman because she doesn't like the answer so [18:59] Mr Chairman I have asked Merrick Garland this I am reclaiming my time and when I will claim my time [19:08] for her theatrics the time belongs to the time belongs to the gentle lady the gentle lady has [19:15] 17 seconds thank you you're not going to answer this question so let me just chairman I'll direct [19:21] it what a massive no I'm answering a question will you restore her time the witnesses interrupted with [19:27] this woman she's doing theatrics let me have my general lady [19:30] the gentle lady from Washington controls the time the gentle lady has 17 seconds you can you can [19:35] proceed with your final 17 seconds what a massive cover-up this has been and continues to be Donald [19:41] Trump made the release of the Epstein files the center of his political campaign because he thought [19:46] it would benefit him then you got into office Attorney General claimed to have a client list [19:51] regular order say that there was no list your deputy Todd Blanch met alone with Elaine Maxwell [20:00] expired to a minimum security prison and now you continue the time of the gentle lady has expired [20:07] that you would turn around to the survivors who are standing right behind you and on a human level [20:13] chairman now recognizes the chair what you have done the time is the time is back the gentle lady [20:19] you have no time to yield back we appreciate that we appreciate the thought um the um and I would [20:25] argue the central issue in the last election the presidential election was securing the border the [20:30] woman who knows something about securing the border is up for five minutes thank you Mr Chairman and [20:35] thank you Attorney General Bondi for being here today in in 2022 Lafarge which is a French cement [20:42] company pled guilty in U.S federal court to participating in a criminal conspiracy with [20:47] Isis that conspiracy contributed to the deaths of U.S service members fighting in Syria during [20:54] Operation inherent resolve as part of the plea agreement Lafarge was required to pay more than [20:59] 775 million dollars [21:01] to DOJ's asset forfeiture fund in February 2025 my colleagues and I sent you a letter urging the [21:07] department to review the petitions for remission submitted by the families of those fallen service [21:13] members including several of my constituents the previous administration ignored these victims and [21:18] our requests and left their petitions unresolved my question for you on this particular issue is [21:24] if you're willing to work to ensure those families that their petitions will be removed or assuming [21:29] reviewed and brought to a resolution [21:32] Congressman we are aware of that and we're committed to doing everything we can to support [21:37] the victims and work with you thank you for that question yeah appreciate your answer and now let's [21:42] go to something that is also pressing that I've been working on for years and this is the Pfizer [21:47] section 702 and an Arctic Frost in January 2025 you testified before the U.S Senate and agreed [21:54] with Senator to leave that quote anytime an American citizen's private communications are [21:58] intercepted or stored whether through incidental collection or otherwise [22:02] those communications should not be searched without some showing of probable cause close [22:06] quote you still have hold that view today I assume yes and um during the most recent Pfizer [22:15] reauthorization I offered an amendment to establish a clear warrant requirement for searches of [22:20] Americans data while preserving every publicly cited operational exception including emergencies [22:25] defensive queries cyber security threats and my intent was to ensure the Department of Justice [22:31] could continue to keep American [22:33] safe while also ending warrantless searches of U.S persons data are there any additional [22:38] circumstances or exceptions that you believe must be included to ensure DOJ can continue [22:44] to operate effectively while still uh protecting American citizens data and privacy yeah Congressman [22:51] we are committed to working with Congress to uncover weaponization and other misconduct by [22:57] Jack Smith by others Arctic Frost everything that happened under the past administration [23:04] and [23:05] we are committed to working with you on that and we are working with Chairman Jordan with the House [23:13] Intel with all of our my fellow cabinet members on resolving that issue well thank you and I'm glad [23:20] you brought up Arctic Frost because section 702 was used in the Arctic Frost investigation it [23:27] was and information derived was used by Special Counsel Jack Smith and my question has always been [23:36] able to answer this is what was the legal predicate for using a foreign intelligence [23:41] authority in the arctic frost investigation have you been able to ascertain any legal predicate [23:49] congressman what i can tell you today is that has been referred to my office i can't discuss [23:55] anything regarding that because it is very active and ongoing and you probably can't answer this one [24:02] either but i really want to know if section 702 queries related to that matter involved members [24:07] of congress which we know and some level it did congressional staff which we know at some level [24:12] did we've heard that journalists or other u.s persons not suspected of acting as foreign agents [24:17] were also caught up in that can you answer that question and say whether queries did cover all [24:23] those those groups i just identified it is a very active pending investigation within my office [24:30] however i believe many members of congress have stated that their phones were [24:39] were part of arctic frost we are well aware of that and we are taking this very seriously and [24:46] this is a very active investigation and i would keep going and say if any member of the democrat [24:52] party if any of them that had happened to them we would take that just as serious as we do [24:59] and they should be jumping up and down screaming supporting you and what you want to do [25:06] because this should be a bipartisan issue well i hope it is [25:09] bipartisan issue um and uh you know i'll just leave with these last couple of questions which [25:15] i i'm sure i'll fall into this same investigation privilege but that's this how many such queries [25:22] were actually conducted overall this is outside arctic frost in the prior year by by the fbi or [25:29] other intelligence community and particularly we really need to know what were what were this legal [25:34] standards applied did they use probable cause did they use reasonable articulable suspicion or did [25:39] they have no individualized [25:40] suspicion and just were gathering up information uh and and that's that's beyond the the [25:45] investigation with regarding arctic frost i don't expect you to have that information today but if [25:50] you can uh help get that information so we can understand the extensive nature of this continued [25:58] misuse of 702 it would be very particularly helpful and it was extensive yes congressman thank you [26:04] time of the gentleman has expired i have a uc mr chairman and that is the general aid from texas [26:10] i ask unanimous consent to answer [26:12] to the record el paso airspace reopened after faa quickly rescinds 10-day flights restriction this [26:18] was published by the texas tribune on february 11 2026 and it says it was because of an impasse [26:25] with the dod over the use of unmanned military aircraft and not triggered by mexican cartel [26:32] drones not objection uh point of order mr chairman i didn't hear back about the second round of [26:37] questions i assume that's not happening i just want to be able to assure the members certainly [26:42] on my side if not both sides that's not a point of order no but that that every member will get five [26:47] minutes with the uh witness will there be five minutes for each yeah you get five minutes yeah [26:52] with the witness okay very good yeah okay and are you up next gentleman from new york is recognized [26:58] mr chairman i want to begin by acknowledging the survivors of jeffrey epstein's horrific abuse [27:06] who are in the room with us today i want to thank all of you for your bravery of speaking out i want [27:12] to say that you and the other survivors of these heinous crimes are not the only survivors of these [27:14] crimes deserve better from this department of justice in particular it is shocking that the [27:21] department did not redact the names of epstein's victims but it did redact the names of their [27:26] abusers i don't know whether this was done out of incompetence or whether it was deliberate and [27:31] malicious but either way it is completely unacceptable even more troubling the doj has [27:37] failed to bring any of these perpetrators to justice instead it has engaged in a relentless [27:42] pursuit of donald trump's perceived enemies [27:46] i want to focus on just one example the attorney general of my home state of new york [27:51] tish james this doj has been hell-bent on securing an indictment against ms james [27:57] for something anything simply because she held donald trump's companies accountable [28:01] for years of financial fraud and indeed the department manufactured an investigation [28:07] against her for alleged quote mortgage fraud but the u.s attorney leading the investigation [28:12] eric siebert a trump appointee refused to bring charges against ms james [28:17] because there was simply no evidence unfortunately a prosecutor who refuses to do [28:23] trump's bidding has no place in this doj so mr siebert was forced out trump could not contain [28:30] his fury fury that he expressed to you in a social media post addressed to you by name i'm [28:36] sure you've seen it quote i fired him and there is a great case he wrote to you about mr siebert [28:42] then we moved down we can't delay any longer it's killing our reputation and credibility [28:48] impeach me twice and indicted me five times over nothing justice must be served now and obviously [28:55] you followed that order lindsey halligan trump's former defense lawyer who had never [29:01] prosecuted the case in her life was installed to replace mr siebert and it was clear that part of [29:07] her mandate was to go after miss james halligan immediately sought an indictment which the court [29:12] dismissed because halligan was illegally put into the road but your department was undeterred and not [29:19] in the process of investigating the case by keeping the case from us so we went with the [29:22] court to the other court and really thought the court was throwing a good deal out of the way [29:26] and i want to remind you of the great thing when i was in court i did not worry about it [29:31] it was all about the people who thought it was right and i felt like i'd had enough of the [29:48] vote i was proud of what i had done i was proud of what i had done i felt like a human being barbara [29:51] targeting Attorney General James, [29:53] months of investigations, [29:54] multiple failed indictments is astounding. [29:58] Since your own prosecutors told you [29:59] that there is not enough evidence to support a conviction, [30:02] it's clear that you were going after her [30:04] simply because she held President Trump accountable [30:08] and he wants to punish her. [30:10] And she is just one name [30:11] on a long list of Trump political enemies [30:14] that DOJ is reportedly targeting. [30:16] From Jerome Powell and Lisa Cook at the Federal Reserve [30:19] to James Comey, numerous Democratic members of Congress, [30:22] John Brennan, Jack Smith, [30:24] Democratic officials in Minnesota, [30:26] Chris Krebs, Miles Taylors, and more. [30:28] And those are just the ones we know about. [30:30] In contrast to these politically motivated investigations, [30:34] grasping at something they can charge their enemies with, [30:37] we now have concrete evidence of disgusting criminality [30:40] revealed in the Epstein files. [30:42] So I really have just one question for you. [30:46] How many of Epstein's co-conspirators have you indicted? [30:49] How many perpetrators are you even investigating? [30:59] First, you showed a, I find it- [31:02] How many have you indicted? [31:03] Excuse me, I'm gonna answer the question. [31:06] Answer my question. [31:06] No, I'm gonna answer the question [31:08] the way I wanna answer the question. [31:10] Your theatrics are ridiculous. [31:10] No, you're gonna answer the question [31:11] the way I asked it. [31:12] Chairman Jordan, I'm not gonna get in the gutter [31:14] with these people, but I'm gonna answer the question. [31:16] How many have you indicted? [31:17] Again, the time belongs to me. [31:18] Reclaiming my time. [31:19] The time belongs to me. [31:20] I think it's very interesting. [31:21] Reclaiming my time. [31:22] I think it's very interesting. [31:22] Reclaiming my time. [31:23] And you can reclaim your time. [31:24] That he talks about they indicted her. [31:25] Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman. [31:26] The president said they indicted him twice. [31:28] Mr. Chairman, please stop the clock [31:30] and stop the clock and restore his time. [31:31] Oh, okay, here we go with these theatrics. [31:34] The time belongs to the gentleman from New York. [31:36] We will give you a few more seconds. [31:38] We will do that, but when you ask a question, [31:40] the witness gets to answer. [31:41] You may not like the answer, but she gets to answer. [31:44] The question was how many of Epstein's- [31:45] They don't like the answer, Chairman, because it's honest. [31:50] Reclaiming my time. [31:51] So he asked a four-minute question. [31:53] Restore 45 seconds, Mr. Navarro, please, Mr. Chairman. [31:55] Reclaiming my time. [31:57] You can let her filibuster all day long, [31:58] but not on our watch, not on our time, no way. [32:02] And I told you about that, Attorney General, [32:04] before you started. [32:05] You don't tell me anything. [32:06] Yeah, oh, I did tell you, [32:07] because we saw what you did in the Senate. [32:09] Lawyer, not even a lawyer. [32:10] Committee will be in order. [32:11] I should get back at least 45 seconds. [32:13] We will give you a few more seconds. [32:14] I said that already. [32:16] 45 seconds. [32:16] Okay, I'm timing right now, Mr. Navarro. [32:19] Reclaiming my time. [32:20] The answer to my question, [32:22] how many of Epstein's co-conspirators has she indicted, [32:25] is zero. [32:27] You have been the Attorney General for a whole year, [32:30] and your DOJ fired the lead prosecutor of this case, [32:33] sat on evidence this entire time, [32:35] and claimed falsely last July that there were no more leads. [32:39] It took an act of Congress for you [32:40] to finally release part of the Epstein files, [32:42] and when you did, you included personal information [32:45] about the victims while protecting the names of abusers. [32:48] Time of the gentleman has expired. [32:49] None of the perpetrators have been brought to justice, [32:51] but an enormous resource dedicated to pursuing Trump's... [32:52] The time of the gentleman has expired, [32:55] and obviously you're right. [32:55] I'm sorry that under your leadership, [32:57] the Department of Justice no longer works... [32:58] There was no question in there. [33:00] It works for Donald Trump. [33:02] I yield back. [33:03] The gentleman yields back. [33:06] May I answer? [33:07] I think our next questioner, [33:09] Madam Attorney General, [33:10] is gonna give you time to respond to... [33:12] Thank you, Chairman. [33:13] All kinds of things. [33:13] We will turn to the gentleman from Texas for five minutes. [33:16] Ms. Bonda, you go right ahead. [33:17] I'm over here. [33:19] The time is yours. [33:21] Thank you. [33:23] First, he brought up the President saying [33:26] they indicted me twice. [33:28] They sure did. [33:29] They said I could impeach him twice, [33:31] and you, Mr. Nadler, [33:33] were one of the leads on the impeachment. [33:35] I was on the other side. [33:36] I lived that with you. [33:38] During impeachment, you said the President conspired, [33:41] sought foreign interference in the 2016 election. [33:45] Robert Mueller found no evidence, [33:48] none, of foreign interference in 2016. [33:51] Have you apologized to President Trump? [33:54] Have you apologized to President Trump, [33:57] all of you who participated in those impeachment hearings, [33:58] against Donald Trump, [33:59] against Donald Trump? [34:00] You all should be apologizing. [34:02] You sit here and you attack the President, [34:05] and I am not going to have it. [34:07] I'm not going to put up with it. [34:08] You know, all they want to do, [34:10] all the American people need to know this. [34:13] They are talking about Epstein today. [34:16] This has been around since the Obama administration. [34:19] This administration released [34:22] over three million pages of documents, [34:25] over three million, [34:26] and Donald Trump signed that law. [34:29] To release all of those documents. [34:32] He is the most transparent President [34:35] in the nation's history. [34:38] And none of them, none of them, [34:40] ask Merrick Garland over the last four years, [34:44] one word about Jeffrey Epstein. [34:48] How ironic is that? [34:49] You know why? [34:51] Because Donald Trump, the Dow, [34:54] the Dow right now is over, [34:57] the Dow is over $50,000. [35:00] I don't know. [35:00] I don't know why you're laughing. [35:01] You're a great stock trader, as I hear, Raskin. [35:04] The Dow is over $50,000 right now. [35:08] The S&P at almost $7,000. [35:11] And the NASDAQ smashing records. [35:14] Americans' 401 s and retirement savings are booming. [35:19] That's what we should be talking about. [35:22] We should be talking about making Americans safe. [35:25] We should be talking about, [35:27] what does a Dow have to do with anything? [35:29] That's what they just asked. [35:30] Are you kidding? [35:32] Mr. Jordan, Mr. Jordan. [35:34] The committee will be in order. [35:36] Mr. Jordan, am I going to get an extra 45 seconds [35:39] added to my time? [35:40] The committee will be in order. [35:41] The time belongs to the gentleman from Texas. [35:44] Ms. Bondi, the Attorney General can respond. [35:47] Thank you. [35:49] The Dow has shattered $50,000 for the first time. [35:54] This is crazy. [35:55] They said it couldn't be done in four years, [35:57] yet President Trump has done it in one year. [36:01] National median rents have fallen to a four-year low, [36:06] thanks to Donald Trump. [36:08] That's why they want to focus on Epstein [36:12] and our most transparent president [36:14] in the nation's history. [36:17] The murder rate, as I said, has plummeted to a 125-year low, [36:24] thanks to Donald Trump. [36:27] For an unprecedented, unprecedented nine straight months, [36:34] there were zero illegal border crossings [36:37] at the southern border. [36:38] That's what we should be focused on, [36:42] all the great work that this president has done [36:45] and will continue to do to keep America safe [36:49] and to make Americans safe. [36:52] Thank you, Attorney General Bondi. [36:54] I agree with you totally. [36:55] I think you've done a fine job. [36:57] I think that Democrats, in fact, should be apologizing [37:00] to the Epstein victims for doing nothing during the four years [37:03] that they were running the government. [37:04] We did not. [37:05] We did not hear about this. [37:06] And it took you and President Trump [37:08] to finally provide transparency and give answers [37:11] to the American people. [37:12] And I want to thank you for that. [37:14] I want to thank you also for standing up for truth today [37:17] and for fighting back against the theatrics and the time [37:21] waste that you will endure over the next hour or two. [37:25] I want to apologize on behalf of my colleagues on the left. [37:28] They're not all that bad, but they've got to put on a show. [37:31] And I'm sorry that you have to go through that. [37:33] And I would like to yield the last. [37:35] I'd say 40, but 40 is 80 seconds. [37:38] The clock says 40, but I've got 80 seconds since I was so rudely [37:41] interrupted, and I'll give all 80 seconds to Chairman Jordan. [37:45] And I would just yield to the Attorney General [37:47] if she has anything to add. [37:53] I'm fine to continue. [37:54] Thank you, Chairman. [37:54] All right. [37:55] The chair now recognizes the gentleman yields back. [37:57] The chair recognizes the gentlelady from California. [38:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [38:01] I would note that Mr. Nadler's question has not yet [38:04] been answered. [38:05] But I want to start by asking it out of respect [38:08] for the American public. [38:09] And the. [38:10] Epstein survivors, some of whom, of course, [38:12] are here today, that we can have a transparent conversation [38:16] and get the public the answers they deserve. [38:20] I want to briefly direct your attention to two documents [38:24] I'm hoping we will put up on the screen. [38:28] In the first, an individual emails Jeffrey Epstein [38:32] asking whether a woman identified as M [38:35] was pro or civilian. [38:37] And Epstein responds that she was a civilian, Russian, [38:41] and fun. [38:42] In the second email, Epstein writes to Steve Tisch [38:46] about a Ukrainian girl, noting that she was, quote, [38:50] a little freaked out by the age difference [38:52] and stating that he would try to convince her not [38:55] to return to Ukraine. [38:57] He then instructs Mr. Tisch to call him, adding, [39:00] I don't like records of these conversations. [39:03] So I'd like to ask a straightforward question that [39:06] really is either a yes or no answer. [39:09] Do these emails. [39:10] Constantly. [39:11] Do they constitute credible evidence, not proof, [39:14] but credible evidence warning further investigation [39:18] into whether Steve Tisch was involved [39:21] in Epstein's criminal conduct? [39:23] Do you think yes or no? [39:26] I'm not going to play a yes, no game with you, [39:28] but I will answer the question to the best of my ability. [39:31] As I said, we will look and investigate any case involving [39:36] any victim. [39:37] I'm not familiar, there were three million pages, [39:39] of course, with that email. [39:41] But of course, we will look [39:42] into anything. [39:44] The documents have been released, three million. [39:46] The redacted versions, we left them open for all of you [39:50] to come view. [39:51] I believe you view them. [39:52] If not, will you have some copies? [39:54] I'd like to. [39:55] Can I finish, please? [39:56] I'm not being rude. [39:57] I only have five minutes. [39:58] No. [39:59] Yeah, and I only have 30 seconds based on your filibuster. [40:02] You didn't give a yes or no answer. [40:04] So let me just go further. [40:07] Director Patel testified in this committee room [40:10] that there was no credible information. [40:12] Indicating that Epstein trafficked victims [40:16] to anyone else. [40:17] And glancing at the documents, that proves that's not the case. [40:22] In July, your department issued a memo stating [40:25] that it had conducted an exhaustive review [40:28] of the Epstein files and concluded [40:30] that no additional individuals would be charged. [40:33] So I did go over to the Department of Justice [40:36] yesterday. [40:37] I would note that 400 and all our 35 members are [40:42] in the house, and there's four computers. [40:45] So it would take many months to actually have the time. [40:50] I only had a few hours. [40:52] I think the transparency argument is really kind [40:55] of a sham, because it's not really possible. [40:57] Wait, wait, wait, did you have to wait to get a computer? [40:59] It is not possible to really go in. [41:02] I did, however, see a US attorney information [41:05] for the Southern District of New York [41:07] indicating that there were additional survivors [41:10] and a probable co-conspirator. [41:12] There were other co-conspirators. [41:15] Other members of Congress have uncovered [41:17] likely co-conspirators whose names were blocked out. [41:21] Now, the Epstein File Transparency Act, [41:26] which all but one member of this house voted for [41:28] and the president signed, requires the department [41:32] to release everything except that it [41:35] needs to be redacted to protect the victims [41:39] or an ongoing prosecution, which apparently there is none, [41:42] the testimony we have received. [41:45] I am concerned that this act has not been fully complied with. [41:50] When Director Patel came to the committee, [41:52] he admitted that up to 1,000 FBI agents [41:56] had gone through the files and redacted President Trump's name [42:00] from them. [42:01] And it's pretty clear that what has been transmitted [42:04] from the FBI continues to redact President Trump's name, [42:09] even though he is mentioned thousands of times. [42:12] So I think the credibility of the department [42:15] in terms of complying with the act has been damaged. [42:20] And I think the department's credibility [42:22] has been damaged in other ways. [42:24] I think we all saw the horrible video of American citizens [42:29] being killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis. [42:34] And I think how the department has handled these cases [42:37] raises a lot of doubt about the department. [42:40] State and local police have been very careful. [42:42] They've been very careful. [42:42] They've been very careful. [42:42] The Department of Justice in Minnesota [42:44] got a court order to get access to the crime scene [42:48] to be sure evidence would be properly preserved [42:52] by federal agents. [42:53] But they took the agents, defied the court order. [42:57] And in a departure from general policy, [43:01] DOJ is not collaborating with state and local law enforcement [43:06] on these homicides. [43:07] So I really think that is a disgraceful approach [43:11] to the homicides of American citizens [43:12] and really does nothing to bring credit to your department. [43:18] And, Mr. Chairman, I would yield back. [43:20] General Lay yields back. [43:21] May I answer? [43:22] Attorney General can respond. [43:22] I find it interesting that she keeps going [43:24] after President Trump, the greatest president [43:27] in American history. [43:28] And if they could maintain their composure. [43:31] This isn't a circus. [43:32] This is a hearing. [43:34] I find it interesting she keeps going after Donald Trump. [43:37] She doesn't say how much money she took from Reid Hoffman, [43:39] did you? [43:40] None. [43:40] And nor did she. [43:41] Mr. Chairman. [43:42] Mr. Chairman, regular order, please. [43:44] She posted nothing on her ex account, [43:47] on her Twitter account during the Biden years. [43:50] General Lay. [43:51] And yet now all of a sudden, question asked. [43:54] Committee will be in order. [43:55] There was no question asked by the Attorney General. [43:58] She doesn't just get to speak. [43:59] Committee will be in order. [44:00] I have a point of order, Mr. Chairman. [44:02] Committee will be in order. [44:03] Point of order, Mr. Chairman. [44:05] The lady can state her point of order. [44:08] When a witness attacks. [44:10] Not a valid point of order. [44:11] You've got to state your point of order. [44:11] She hasn't completed her point of order yet. [44:13] Please let her speak. [44:13] Mr. Chairman, let's have some regular order here. [44:15] Regular order is you've got to state the rule. [44:17] I am trying to make a point of order that the witness. [44:20] And what rule are you referring to? [44:22] Without responding to a question has attacked me personally. [44:26] I think it's pathetic that she can't answer the questions [44:28] and instead is attacking members of the committee. [44:31] The gentleman from Wisconsin is recognized. [44:35] In August of last year, I sent a letter [44:37] to the Department of Justice asking for assistance [44:40] in seeking compensation for the town of Lac du Flambeau. [44:43] The town of Lac du Flambeau is in my district [44:45] and your office replied that it was an ongoing matter [44:49] and unable to comment on it, which I understand. [44:51] That's just fine. [44:52] I want to set this up just as a reminder. [44:55] So three years ago, it was at this time of year [44:58] that four roads were blockaded in the town of Lac du Flambeau [45:02] and the temperature was 25 below zero. [45:05] People had to park their cars at a neighbor's place, [45:08] take the snowmobile across the lake to get their car [45:10] and then be able to drive into town. [45:12] There were people 80 and 90 years old that could not, [45:16] were very concerned that they'd be able [45:19] to get emergency medical services. [45:22] And the perpetrators of this, the tribe out there, [45:26] they demanded compensation from the town. [45:31] I would call it extortion. [45:32] They ultimately got $600,000 from the town [45:37] of Lac du Flambeau. [45:39] The unfortunate part, Mr. Chairman, [45:40] is that the Biden administration took the side [45:43] of the perpetrators who closed [45:46] those roads off and the Biden administration made it clear [45:51] to the town of Lac du Flambeau that we are not [45:54] on your side in regards to this. [45:56] Well, fortunately, there was a federal judge that said, [45:59] no, this is wrong. [46:00] What happened? [46:01] And these roads should be left open. [46:03] They should continue to be left open. [46:05] My question to you is, are you willing to work with my office [46:10] and with the town of Lac du Flambeau [46:12] to further investigate this matter and seek compensation [46:16] from the tribal government after their extortion [46:19] of $600,000 from this little town in northern Wisconsin? [46:25] Congressman, you do a great job representing your district. [46:29] And yes, we would more than welcome working with you. [46:32] And we are familiar with that investigation. [46:35] Mr. Chairman, I would just add, [46:36] we're highlighting these miscarriages of justice [46:39] in the previous administration. [46:41] This is just another one of those small examples, [46:43] no different than the Catholic Diocese in Richmond [46:46] and many others that you have retold so many times. [46:49] But here's another instance of what they did to a small town [46:53] and nearly bankrupted them as a result of it. [46:56] Fortunately, there was a federal judge [46:58] that saw through it and has fixed it. [47:02] I want to move on to fraud enforcement. [47:04] You've established a National Fraud Enforcement Division. [47:06] Is that correct, Madam Attorney General? [47:08] Yes, Congressman. [47:10] Has this new division begun any investigations [47:14] and getting after those individuals that have committed, [47:18] the rampant fraud we've seen like in Minnesota? [47:22] Well, it's not only rampant in Minnesota, [47:24] it's rampant throughout this country. [47:26] Much of it is in California, as you know, and other places. [47:30] Yes, we are working on it actively. [47:34] Our criminal fraud division has been working on it. [47:37] We are expanding that. [47:39] It was the Vice President's idea to come up [47:41] with this amazing separate fraud division, [47:44] which we are establishing and going nonstop [47:48] not only to expose the fraud in Minnesota, [47:52] but around the country. [47:53] It's taxpayer dollars that have been stolen [47:58] from the American people. [47:59] And we are committed to recovering that money [48:02] and holding those people accountable. [48:04] Mr. Chairman, I would remind everyone here, [48:06] why did this happen in Minneapolis? [48:08] Why did federal law enforcement have to go to Minneapolis? [48:11] Because of industrial scale fraud. [48:13] It was an assistant United States attorney that said, [48:17] this is industrial scale fraud. [48:18] That's going on in Minnesota at this point. [48:22] I sent a letter to our governor in Wisconsin. [48:25] You know, we're right across the border there. [48:27] My district is only 20 miles from the city of Minneapolis. [48:31] And I asked him to open the books for a federal audit [48:34] on food stamps and Medicaid. [48:36] Don't you think it would be a good idea [48:38] for every governor to do that at this point? [48:40] It protects the citizens. [48:44] And I can't understand why that's not happening. [48:47] And yes, I do think that's a great idea. [48:49] It's happening around the city. [48:50] It's happening in this country. [48:52] And when our new division with Colin McDonald is established, [48:57] it's established when Colin is confirmed, he's amazing. [49:00] I think you've met with him, you said, Chairman. [49:02] When that is established, [49:04] we're going to work on both sides of the aisle. [49:05] That's what we want to do to stop fraud in every city, [49:10] in every state in this country. [49:12] We will continue to fight for the American people. [49:15] So you would encourage every governor [49:17] across the United States, [49:18] after what we have seen [49:20] and what we almost certainly know is happening [49:22] in other states, you mentioned California, [49:25] you would agree that every governor [49:27] should avail themselves of federal resources [49:30] to make sure that this industrial-scale fraud [49:32] is rooted out to protect the taxpayers of the United States. [49:36] Is that correct? [49:37] Absolutely. [49:38] Mr. Chairman, I yield back. [49:40] The gentleman yields back. [49:40] The gentleman from Tennessee is recognized. [49:42] Thank you, Mr. Chair. [49:43] First, I'd like to thank you for holding this hearing [49:45] and holding it in a proper fashion, as you have. [49:48] Secondly, I'd like to thank all of the victims of the Epstein, [49:51] Case, who have come here to attend this hearing [49:54] for doing it and for being brave [49:56] and trying to move this justice forward. [49:58] I apologize, I can't do it, [49:59] but the Attorney General not recognizing you. [50:01] That's embarrassing. [50:03] I am from Memphis, General Bondi, [50:06] and Memphis does have the task force there. [50:09] The Memphis Safe Task Force has been operating [50:11] in Memphis for several months, [50:12] and we do have a Democratic Mayor, Paul Young, [50:14] and he's not against the task force, [50:17] but he is against ICE being in Memphis, [50:19] and he's not in favor of the National Guard being in Memphis. [50:21] And I concur with him on those positions. [50:23] I think the DEA being there, [50:25] the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, [50:27] the FBI, who have been in Memphis in other ways, [50:29] having more people there is good for Memphis. [50:32] Crime has gone down in Memphis, [50:33] but it went down 25% before the task force got there [50:37] under the direction of Mayor Young and Director Davis, [50:40] Chief Davis. [50:42] It's gone down about 15% more since then. [50:44] And that's good, but I would like to comment [50:46] that Mexico City's homicide rate has gone down 40% [50:49] during the same time when Memphis [50:51] has only gone down 25%. [50:54] And that's not necessarily because of the task force, [50:58] although the Mayor says he thinks it's helped. [51:00] So I thank you for that. [51:03] You would agree, I presume, that violent crime [51:05] in communities across our country is critically important, [51:08] and that's why the task force is there. [51:10] Is that not true? [51:13] Yes, and if I can just add to that, [51:14] I think the surge, the FBI, our FBI, [51:17] under the leadership of Director Patel, [51:18] came in and did a surge in Memphis. [51:21] Earlier. [51:22] Yes, right, prior to the task force. [51:24] And thank you for saying that about Mayor Young. [51:27] He's been great to work with, and thank you. [51:30] He's a good guy. [51:31] He's a very good guy. [51:33] One problem I've got with where we are in priorities here, [51:37] a recent Department of Justice, [51:39] National Institute of Justice report, [51:40] based on arrest records in Texas and in California, [51:43] found that undocumented immigrants [51:45] were less than half as likely as US-born Americans [51:48] to be arrested for homicide. [51:50] And this pattern holds for assault, sexual assault, [51:52] robbery, burglary, theft, and arson. [51:54] Half as likely to be addressed [51:56] for drug offenses. [51:57] So I ask you, and I've written to you about this, [52:00] there are TV ads that run that say, [52:02] to local law enforcement, specifically, [52:05] are you tired of having your hands handcuffed? [52:08] Because you can't do the things you wanted to do [52:10] when you joined, and if you want to do something different, [52:12] join ICE, and you'll get a $50,000 bonus [52:15] and we'll pay off your debts, student debts, [52:18] and we'll help you with pensions, [52:20] et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. [52:21] So they're encouraging local law enforcement [52:23] to leave local law enforcement and go to work for ICE. [52:26] We need people working in the front lines [52:28] of local law enforcement to protect our citizens [52:31] from the worst of the worst. [52:32] The worst of the worst are not the immigrants. [52:34] The worst of the worst records show [52:36] are native-born Americans, [52:38] and they are committing crimes [52:40] that hurt our citizens and our cities. [52:42] And you're working against it, and thank you for that. [52:44] But by trying to get our local law enforcement, [52:46] where we have an undercount of officers in Memphis, [52:50] to leave Memphis and go to work for ICE [52:52] to deport people is a wrong priority. [52:54] Why are we trying to get [52:56] people, policemen, who are working on the front lines, [52:59] to leave the front lines, take the $50,000, [53:01] and go to work for ICE instead of working [53:05] to fight the worst of the worst? [53:08] Congressman, I have not yet seen that commercial, that ad. [53:11] I would argue that we need strong people [53:14] in both local law enforcement, state law enforcement, [53:17] and all of our federal agencies working together. [53:22] I've seen some of the worst of the worst violent, [53:27] criminal, violent criminals [53:30] who were in this country illegally. [53:32] We both know that. [53:34] And in Memphis, working hand in hand, [53:36] I want to stick with Memphis and your mayor [53:39] and what you discussed, [53:40] because there have been nearly 6,000 arrests [53:44] as of February 8th, and I think you agree with this, [53:47] in your district, in your district, [53:50] and almost 600 gang members. [53:53] What we found in Memphis, a lot of the gangs are local gangs. [53:58] But 600 gang members were taken off the streets. [54:01] Let me reclaim my time, [54:02] because I have only 40 seconds. [54:03] I'm gonna agree with you. [54:04] 148, yeah. [54:04] I thank you for that. [54:05] And 148 missing children were recovered [54:09] by all of us working together, [54:12] and nearly 1,000 illegal guns were seized [54:16] as a result of us working together. [54:17] I would like to reclaim my time. [54:18] And I don't disagree with some of the things you said, [54:20] but there are questions about those children, [54:22] but it's a different thing. [54:23] The fact is, ICE is running rampant, [54:26] and you are not investigating them. [54:28] They killed Mr. Prette and Ms. Goode. [54:31] That was an execution, and you did not investigate it. [54:35] And you tried to investigate Ms. Goode's widow, [54:37] and you tried to investigate Mr. Prette. [54:39] They were executed, like Kristi Noem executed her dog. [54:44] And that was wrong, and you should investigate those people, [54:47] and you should investigate anybody that uses a weapon, [54:49] a federal official or not, for civil rights violations. [54:53] I yield back the balance. [54:54] The gentleman yields back his time. [54:55] Madam Attorney General, anytime you need a break, [54:56] just let us know. [54:57] We'll just keep going. [54:59] The chair is now recognized for five minutes. [55:01] Madam Attorney General, you're not allowed [55:02] to exercise your constitutional rights [55:04] in a way that tramples on someone else's, are you? [55:07] No. [55:08] No, you can't do that. [55:09] I mean, you have a right to petition the government [55:10] under the First Amendment. [55:11] That doesn't mean you can come into this room [55:13] and start screaming at Mr. Raskin or me or anybody else [55:16] and disrupt a congressional hearing. [55:18] You have a right to protest on the street, [55:21] but that doesn't give you a right to go into the Capitol [55:23] and disrupt Congress, [55:24] something these guys talk about every day. [55:26] You can't do that. [55:28] So when Don Lemon said [55:29] that he was exercising his First Amendment [55:32] free press rights, freedom of the press rights, [55:35] that's not really accurate because he was trampling [55:37] on other individuals' rights. [55:39] Is that true? [55:44] Chairman, we will always protect our churches [55:48] and the freedom of religion. [55:50] And yes, that's accurate. [55:51] First right mentioned under the First Amendment, [55:53] freedom of religion, freedom to practice your faith [55:55] the way you think the good Lord wants you to, right? [55:56] That's right, under the federal government. [55:58] And isn't it true that Mr. Lemon met at a shopping center [56:01] with the rioters who entered [56:03] the city's church in St. Paul, [56:06] met with them prior to marching to the church? [56:13] He did meet, and this is a pending case right now, [56:16] so I will only stick to what is in the four corners [56:18] of the unsealed indictment, if I could, Chairman. [56:21] Yeah, I'm focused on- [56:23] There's a lot more that will come out. [56:24] But under the four corners of the indictment, [56:27] yes, he did. [56:28] They had an operation called Operation Pull-Up. [56:32] They said they were gearing for a resistance. [56:34] They met in a parking lot and they caravaned, [56:37] to a church on a Sunday morning [56:41] when people were worshiping together. [56:43] And Mr. Lemon said that he live-streamed [56:46] before entering the church with the rioters. [56:48] Didn't he say, we're gonna head to the operation? [56:50] Didn't he say this on, he said this on camera, is that right? [56:53] Yes, Chairman, and more. [56:55] That he was in Minnesota and that, as you said, [56:57] they were gearing up for an operation. [56:59] So you, again, you can't do that. [57:02] This is why this is, I think, so important [57:04] that this guy be held accountable, [57:05] and I think why you guys have, have charged him. [57:07] Indicted him. [57:09] Moving to the second subject here. [57:11] Will John Brennan be indicted? [57:13] Mr. Brennan lied to the committee, [57:17] which you're not supposed to do. [57:19] Last Congress, when we deposed him, [57:20] he definitely, 18 U.S.C. 1001, we're all familiar with it. [57:23] He lied to the committee, and the committee, [57:25] the Congress, I think the country would like to know [57:27] if, in fact, he's gonna be indicted for lying to, [57:30] and here's why it's so important. [57:31] I'll give you a chance to respond. [57:32] Here's why it's so important. [57:34] It wasn't just that he lied to us. [57:36] It's what he lied to us about. [57:38] He lied to us about when, [57:40] when all this weaponization against the President [57:42] of the United States started, [57:43] he lied to us about the dossier, [57:45] and specifically, what role the dossier played [57:50] in the intelligence community assessment, [57:53] because we know back when President Trump [57:55] was first elected, first term, [57:57] this is when it all started, [57:59] which led to the Mueller, and to the impeachment, [58:01] and to the Jack Smith, and all the stuff [58:02] that's happened in the last decade, [58:04] but it began here, and he lied to Congress [58:07] about the role he played, and I just wanna read [58:09] a couple of things he said [58:11] during that deposition, [58:12] before I give you a chance to respond. [58:14] Mr. Brennan, when asked a question, said, [58:16] the CIA was not involved at all with the dossier. [58:20] He said it was their purview, FBI's purview, and not ours. [58:23] He also said the CIA was very much opposed [58:25] to having any reference or inclusion of the Steele dossier [58:28] in the intelligence community assessment. [58:32] Well, that's interesting, because declassified, [58:34] information that was declassified this past summer [58:38] by the CIA says something entirely different. [58:40] It says, Brennan, I wanna put this one up [58:42] if we have it, it says, Brennan ultimately formalized [58:45] his position in writing, stating that, quote, [58:47] this is released by the CIA Director Ratcliffe, [58:49] my bottom line is that what I believe, [58:51] that that information warrants inclusion in the report. [58:53] He was further asked by a CIA official, [58:59] the same officer said, when he approached the director, [59:03] and asked that the director refuse to remove it [59:05] after being explained this wasn't good, [59:08] with the dossier's many flaws, he said, [59:10] yes, but doesn't it ring true? [59:13] So this is John Brennan, [59:15] using that document to change intelligence community [59:17] assessment, which I think led to all the stuff [59:20] we've seen over the last decade, [59:22] and I think this committee in the country, [59:25] Congress in the country, excuse me, [59:27] like to know if Mr. Brennan's gonna be indicted. [59:35] What I can confirm is that we have received a referral [59:38] from you, Chairman Jordan, to investigate John Brennan. [59:43] His attorneys have made some public statements, [59:47] but the department is still bound, of course, [59:49] by our longstanding policy of not discussing matters. [59:53] What I will say today, I can't confirm nor deny [59:58] whether there is a pending investigation, [1:00:00] but what I will say is no one is above the law. [1:00:03] Mr. Chairman, a point of order. [1:00:04] Weaponization has ended. [1:00:06] Yeah. [1:00:07] Point of order, Mr. Chairman. [1:00:08] Gentleman from New York is recognized [1:00:10] for a point of order. [1:00:11] If we wanna know whether Mr. Brennan will be indicted, [1:00:14] you should just ask the president. [1:00:16] Not a point of order, [1:00:17] but I appreciate that you're trying to make it one. [1:00:21] The gentleman from Georgia is, [1:00:23] recognized. [1:00:24] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:00:26] General Bundy, it's been reported that there were, [1:00:30] at one point, 1,000 personnel assigned to the task [1:00:35] of identifying and scrubbing Donald Trump's name [1:00:39] from the Epstein files. [1:00:41] Were those reports accurate? [1:00:50] I believe his name has appeared countless times [1:00:54] in the documents that have been released. [1:00:55] How many people were assigned? [1:00:57] If I could finish. [1:00:59] I'm going to read you the stats. [1:01:01] I just simply asked whether or not it was true [1:01:04] that it was 1,000 folks who were assigned that task. [1:01:10] Were those reports accurate? [1:01:13] There are more than 500 attorneys and reviewers. [1:01:16] I cannot give you an exact number. [1:01:18] Okay, and I wanted to ask you about that also, [1:01:21] because this is a different question [1:01:23] that you're getting to now. [1:01:25] There were 500 DOJ lawyers and, [1:01:31] and others assigned the task [1:01:34] of redacting the appropriate information, [1:01:38] including identities of the Epstein victim survivors [1:01:45] from the Epstein files prior to their release. [1:01:48] 500, is that correct? [1:01:50] If I could have finished my answer, [1:01:53] there were more than 500 attorneys and reviewers [1:01:56] who assisted with the, [1:01:59] they ask a question and they don't want an answer. [1:02:00] That answers my question. [1:02:01] That answers my question, ma'am, [1:02:02] and I'm going to move on. [1:02:03] I'm going to continue more than. [1:02:04] I'm going to move on. [1:02:05] From multiple districts. [1:02:06] You will be in order. [1:02:07] This is ridiculous. [1:02:08] The time belongs to the gentleman from Georgia. [1:02:10] General Bundy, would you agree [1:02:12] that your eight years of service [1:02:14] as the state of Florida's attorney general, [1:02:17] the third largest state in the nation, [1:02:20] served as an excellent preparation [1:02:22] for your current role as attorney general [1:02:25] for the United States of America? [1:02:27] Not only that, I was a career prosecutor for 18 years. [1:02:30] For 18 years. [1:02:31] For 18 years. [1:02:32] 18 years. [1:02:33] And for 18 years. [1:02:34] Prior to being. [1:02:35] For 18 years, you prosecuted. [1:02:36] He asked a question and doesn't want an answer. [1:02:37] This is theatrics. [1:02:38] Well, no. [1:02:39] For 18 years. [1:02:40] Come on. [1:02:41] You prosecuted serious felony cases, [1:02:45] including drug cases, correct? [1:02:48] Oh, I prosecuted homicides. [1:02:50] I prosecuted capital cases. [1:02:51] I prosecuted domestic violence cases. [1:02:54] I prosecuted multiple cases. [1:02:56] And that's why I feel for all of these victims. [1:02:58] And did you ask Merrick Garland this [1:03:00] when you were sitting here? [1:03:01] I was sitting before him, sir. [1:03:02] You also prosecuted sexual assault cases [1:03:05] and child sex trafficking cases, correct? [1:03:09] I answered that question earlier. [1:03:14] I prosecuted multiple cases when I was a prosecutor. [1:03:17] Bottom line, you are an experienced and seasoned. [1:03:19] For 18 years. [1:03:21] Mr. Chairman, will you remind her of the rules? [1:03:23] The time belongs to the member of the committee. [1:03:25] I think I've said that a few times. [1:03:27] You are a seasoned and experienced prosecutor, correct? [1:03:30] I think we've established that. [1:03:35] Yes or no? [1:03:36] Do you want an answer or not? [1:03:37] I think he wants to say no. [1:03:38] I don't want a yes or no answer. [1:03:39] I think he wants to say no. [1:03:40] I want a yes or no answer, [1:03:41] but I'll live with what you have already said. [1:03:43] I'd be loved to explain my experience. [1:03:45] Let me ask you this question. [1:03:47] Clearly you don't have any. [1:03:48] In the prosecution of sexual assault cases, [1:03:50] you are acutely aware of how important it is [1:03:54] to protect the identity of victims of sexual assault, correct? [1:03:59] I have addressed this multiple times. [1:04:06] I think others were cutting me off when I was trying to. [1:04:09] Well, I just simply asked, [1:04:10] are you aware of the fact that it's vitally important [1:04:14] to protect the identity of sexual assault victims [1:04:17] as you prosecute the people they accuse of assaulting them? [1:04:23] Isn't that correct? [1:04:24] Excuse me. [1:04:27] As we have said multiple times, [1:04:29] protection of the identity of the victims is so very important. [1:04:35] Do you want me to answer or do you want to interrupt? [1:04:37] Well, because you're not answering the question. [1:04:39] You do a Jekyll and Hyde kind of routine. [1:04:42] And I just want you to answer my questions. [1:04:46] What does Jekyll and Hyde mean? [1:04:47] Can you explain that? [1:04:48] Well, it means you're nice to the Republicans [1:04:50] and you turn like Hyde on Democrats. [1:04:54] But let me ask you this, ma'am. [1:04:56] We have the Epstein victim survivors here today. [1:05:04] Representative Jayapal asked a simple question. [1:05:07] If you would be so kind and honorable [1:05:10] as to turn around and face them [1:05:12] and apologize to them for outing them, [1:05:16] I mean, how many lives have been derailed [1:05:22] because your department was either sloppy and incompetent [1:05:26] or willfully trying to intimidate and punish these ladies [1:05:32] for coming forward? [1:05:33] Your time is up. [1:05:34] Which was it? [1:05:35] The time of the gentleman has expired. [1:05:37] The gentleman yields back. [1:05:38] The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin [1:05:40] for five minutes. [1:05:42] Attorney General Bondi, [1:05:45] my colleagues, [1:05:46] on the other side of the aisle, [1:05:47] have spent the past several months [1:05:48] attacking the administration [1:05:50] for doing exactly what the American people wanted [1:05:53] when they overwhelmingly elected President Trump, [1:05:57] securing our border and enforcing our immigration laws. [1:06:00] I find it a bit ironic [1:06:02] because this is the same party who, [1:06:04] just a few years ago, [1:06:06] were openly supporting strong immigration enforcement [1:06:10] after witnessing criminal illegal aliens wreak havoc [1:06:14] on the American communities. [1:06:16] I have a short video idea [1:06:18] that I just wanted to play. [1:06:19] We're a nation of immigrants. [1:06:21] We're also a nation of laws. [1:06:23] Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, [1:06:26] and I believe that they must be held accountable. [1:06:28] If they've committed a crime, [1:06:30] deport them. [1:06:31] No questions asked. [1:06:32] They're gone. [1:06:33] No great nation can be in a position [1:06:37] where they can't control their borders. [1:06:39] While we need to address the issue of immigration [1:06:42] and the challenge we have of undocumented people in our country, [1:06:46] we certainly don't want any more coming in. [1:06:48] Every place in this country [1:06:49] are rightly disturbed by the large numbers [1:06:52] of illegal aliens entering our country. [1:06:55] The jobs they hold might otherwise be held [1:06:58] by citizens or legal immigrants. [1:07:00] The public service they use [1:07:02] impose burdens on our taxpayers. [1:07:04] That's why our administration has moved aggressively [1:07:06] to secure our borders more [1:07:08] by hiring a record number of new border guards, [1:07:11] by deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before, [1:07:14] by cracking down on illegal hiring, [1:07:16] by barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens. [1:07:19] Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. [1:07:23] When we use phrases like undocumented workers, [1:07:27] we convey a message to the American people [1:07:30] that their government is not serious [1:07:32] about combating illegal immigration, [1:07:34] which the American people overwhelmingly oppose. [1:07:37] If you don't think it's illegal, [1:07:40] you're not going to say it. [1:07:41] I think it is illegal and wrong. [1:07:43] Open the borders, my God. [1:07:45] You know, there's a lot of poverty in this world, [1:07:47] and you're going to have people from all over the world. [1:07:49] And I don't think that's something [1:07:50] that we can do at this point. [1:07:52] Can't do it. [1:07:53] Yes or no, would you allow the cities [1:07:55] to ignore the federal law? [1:07:56] No. [1:07:57] We simply cannot allow people [1:07:59] to pour into the United States undetected, [1:08:02] undocumented, unchecked, [1:08:05] and circumventing the line of people [1:08:07] who are waiting patiently, diligently, [1:08:09] and lawfully to become immigrants in this country. [1:08:13] So, Attorney General Bondi, [1:08:18] what's the Trump administration DOJ doing [1:08:22] to end the open border policies [1:08:24] of the prior administration [1:08:26] that saw dangerous drugs [1:08:28] and criminal aliens flood our communities? [1:08:32] Congressman President Trump has worked tirelessly, [1:08:38] as you know, to close our border, [1:08:41] which is what the Democrats had asked for in that video. [1:08:44] President Trump closed our borders on day one. [1:08:48] He is protecting Americans. [1:08:50] He is protecting our kids [1:08:52] from the influx of drugs [1:08:54] that were flowing into this country from Mexico, [1:08:58] the fentanyl precursors that were coming from China. [1:09:02] These precursors were taken from China into Mexico. [1:09:06] And in Mexico, they were mixed [1:09:08] and freely taken right into our country, [1:09:12] along with gang members, MS-13, TDA, [1:09:17] freely coming into our cities around our country, [1:09:22] thanks to Joe Biden's [1:09:24] open border policies. [1:09:26] That has stopped under Donald Trump. [1:09:28] It will no longer happen [1:09:30] under this administration. [1:09:32] And he is doing everything [1:09:34] to keep Americans safe. [1:09:36] And let me continue. [1:09:37] When he was elected overwhelmingly [1:09:39] by the American people, [1:09:41] the majority of the American people [1:09:43] wanted Donald Trump. [1:09:45] One of the main reasons was border security [1:09:47] and keeping Americans safe. [1:09:49] And that's exactly what he did. [1:09:51] And that's why today, [1:09:53] the other side sits here. [1:09:55] They yell. [1:09:56] They cut me off. [1:09:57] They want to yell. [1:09:58] They want to ask a question [1:09:59] and don't want answers [1:10:00] because they want to distract [1:10:02] from all the great things [1:10:04] that this president [1:10:05] and this administration, [1:10:06] working hand in hand, [1:10:08] and that includes Secretary Noem, [1:10:10] who has closed our borders, [1:10:12] and Tom Homan, [1:10:13] who has closed our borders [1:10:15] to keep Americans safe. [1:10:16] And they're trying to distract from that, [1:10:18] and they're not going to do it [1:10:19] because the American people [1:10:20] are smarter than that, [1:10:21] and they see through their theatrics. [1:10:23] Thank you. [1:10:24] Just quickly, [1:10:25] yesterday, [1:10:26] Senator Grassley reached out [1:10:27] to my office [1:10:28] to tell me [1:10:29] that I was one of the 20 members [1:10:31] that was now disclosed [1:10:33] were under surveillance [1:10:34] from Jack Smith. [1:10:36] This brings up the question [1:10:37] of nondisclosed orders [1:10:39] and whether or not [1:10:40] they should apply [1:10:41] to members of Congress. [1:10:43] But with my phone records [1:10:44] being surveilled [1:10:45] as well as, [1:10:46] looks like, [1:10:47] 19 other members of Congress, [1:10:48] I'm just wondering [1:10:49] how DOJ views that. [1:10:51] The time, [1:10:54] Mr. Chairman, [1:10:55] and the lady can respond. [1:10:56] As I stated earlier, [1:10:57] Congressman, [1:10:58] anyone's records [1:10:59] who were illegally obtained, [1:11:01] Democrat or Republican, [1:11:03] we will fight vigorously [1:11:04] to stop that. [1:11:05] Anything with Arctic frost, [1:11:07] I can't discuss right now. [1:11:08] And isn't it true, [1:11:09] Madam Attorney General, [1:11:10] that DOJ has changed their policy? [1:11:11] You can't do that now. [1:11:13] Absolutely. [1:11:14] DOJ is not going to go do that [1:11:15] and ask the judge for an NDO. [1:11:16] Absolutely. [1:11:17] Yeah, good. [1:11:18] That in and of itself [1:11:19] tells you why this, [1:11:20] how wrong it was. [1:11:21] The chair now recognizes [1:11:22] the gentleman from California. [1:11:23] Thank you. [1:11:24] Madam Attorney General, [1:11:25] you acknowledged earlier [1:11:26] to Mr. Johnson [1:11:27] that President Trump [1:11:28] was mentioned [1:11:29] in the release [1:11:30] countless times, [1:11:31] you said, [1:11:32] in the Epstein files. [1:11:33] I just want to play a video, [1:11:34] though, [1:11:36] for you [1:11:37] that I think speaks [1:11:38] to the frustration [1:11:39] that many of these victims have. [1:11:40] Trump's name appears [1:11:41] in the files, [1:11:43] so it could at least [1:11:44] be a thousand times. [1:11:45] Is that right? [1:11:46] The number [1:11:47] is a total misleading factor. [1:11:48] We have not released [1:11:50] anyone's name [1:11:51] We have not released [1:11:52] anyone's name [1:11:53] in the Epstein files [1:11:54] that has not been credible. [1:11:55] We have not released [1:11:56] anyone's name [1:11:57] in the Epstein files [1:11:58] that has not been credible. [1:11:59] Director, could it [1:12:00] at least be a thousand times? [1:12:01] We have released [1:12:02] every piece of legally [1:12:03] permissible information. [1:12:04] You can characterize [1:12:05] the numbers [1:12:06] however you want it. [1:12:07] You're claiming my time, [1:12:08] Director. [1:12:09] It sounds like [1:12:10] if you don't know the number, [1:12:11] it could at least be [1:12:12] a thousand times. [1:12:13] It's not. [1:12:14] It's not. [1:12:15] Is it at least 500 times? [1:12:16] No. [1:12:17] Is it at least 100 times? [1:12:21] No. [1:12:22] Then what's the number? [1:12:23] I don't know the number. [1:12:25] I understand [1:12:26] why the victims are frustrated, [1:12:27] and the Attorney General [1:12:28] acknowledged [1:12:29] what Mr. Patel [1:12:30] would not acknowledge, [1:12:31] the weaponization [1:12:32] of government. [1:12:33] And yesterday [1:12:34] it was reported [1:12:35] that six members [1:12:36] of Congress [1:12:37] had indictments [1:12:38] sought against him, [1:12:39] and they were not returned [1:12:40] by a grand jury. [1:12:41] My colleagues [1:12:42] have spoken about [1:12:43] their frustration [1:12:45] of being in subpoenas [1:12:46] and having cell phone records [1:12:47] combed through. [1:12:48] Well, in 2017 and 2018, [1:12:50] Adam Schiff and I [1:12:52] had our cell phone records [1:12:53] and email records [1:12:54] combed through, [1:12:55] not by you, [1:12:56] but a different [1:12:57] Department of Justice [1:12:58] under the President. [1:12:59] It was in retaliation [1:13:00] for our role [1:13:01] in the Russia interference [1:13:02] campaign, [1:13:03] an Inspector General [1:13:04] report would find [1:13:05] this improper [1:13:06] and that the predicate [1:13:07] for it was absurd. [1:13:08] In 2020, [1:13:09] after sitting [1:13:10] on two committees [1:13:11] that were a part [1:13:12] of the President's [1:13:13] first impeachment, [1:13:14] an FBI agent [1:13:15] leaked my cooperation [1:13:16] in a national security case [1:13:17] where my campaign [1:13:18] was targeted. [1:13:19] The President's [1:13:20] FBI senior leadership [1:13:21] authorized [1:13:22] two statements [1:13:23] to the press [1:13:24] that said [1:13:25] I was never suspected [1:13:26] of wrongdoing [1:13:27] and only helped [1:13:28] the investigation. [1:13:29] But that didn't stop [1:13:30] the death threats [1:13:31] or my GOP colleagues [1:13:32] from finding out [1:13:33] that the FBI [1:13:34] was involved [1:13:35] in an FBI investigation [1:13:36] where Kevin McCarthy's [1:13:37] chairman on the [1:13:38] Ethics Committee [1:13:39] would find the same [1:13:40] thing as the FBI. [1:13:41] Our current FBI director [1:13:42] would then write a book [1:13:43] called Government Gangsters [1:13:44] and identify a long [1:13:45] list of enemies. [1:13:46] About a quarter [1:13:47] of them have been [1:13:48] either investigated [1:13:49] or indicted. [1:13:50] He listed me [1:13:51] at the very top [1:13:52] along with Adam Schiff [1:13:53] and during that [1:13:54] same testimony [1:13:55] refused to [1:13:56] recuse himself [1:13:57] when asked [1:13:58] if he would recuse [1:13:59] if any case [1:14:00] came across his desk [1:14:01] or if there was [1:14:02] any evidence [1:14:03] that the FBI [1:14:04] was involved [1:14:05] in the investigation. [1:14:06] Since that testimony [1:14:07] his department [1:14:08] has put me [1:14:09] under investigation [1:14:10] with Senator Schiff [1:14:11] for the nonsense [1:14:12] mortgage fraud cases [1:14:13] that we've seen. [1:14:14] I get it. [1:14:15] This is what [1:14:16] the President does. [1:14:18] I've priced it in. [1:14:19] We have a bingo card [1:14:20] at home [1:14:21] that my kids have made [1:14:22] of what will come next. [1:14:23] I expected [1:14:24] that the President [1:14:25] would come after [1:14:26] his enemies. [1:14:27] But what I want [1:14:28] to talk to you next [1:14:29] is serious [1:14:30] and I did not expect [1:14:31] that. [1:14:32] In June 2025 [1:14:33] an individual [1:14:34] left 11 voicemails [1:14:35] at my district office. [1:14:36] On the voicemails [1:14:37] they said [1:14:38] get the message [1:14:39] to him [1:14:40] I'm gonna hunt him down [1:14:41] that motherfucker [1:14:42] and toss his ass [1:14:43] over the Golden Gate Bridge [1:14:44] by my fucking self. [1:14:46] Donald Trump's [1:14:47] Department of Justice [1:14:48] in the Northern District [1:14:49] of California [1:14:50] declined to prosecute. [1:14:51] On May 14, 2025 [1:14:53] on Twitter [1:14:54] responding to something [1:14:55] I posted [1:14:56] an individual said [1:14:57] no it wasn't Eric [1:14:58] and now I'm going [1:15:00] to kill you. [1:15:01] The Department of Justice [1:15:02] from the Southern District [1:15:03] of California [1:15:04] declined to prosecute. [1:15:05] May through December [1:15:06] of 2025 [1:15:07] we received messages [1:15:08] at my office [1:15:09] that said [1:15:10] I hope somebody [1:15:11] shoots you [1:15:12] and your children [1:15:13] and your wife in the head. [1:15:14] Pew pew motherfucker [1:15:15] pew pew [1:15:16] I would stay indoors [1:15:17] as much as possible [1:15:18] and my children [1:15:19] unfortunately [1:15:20] have to do that. [1:15:21] The Department of Justice [1:15:22] has not charged [1:15:23] this individual [1:15:24] and cited [1:15:25] that he's a prolific caller [1:15:26] and has health conditions [1:15:27] although [1:15:28] what we have found [1:15:29] in our own investigation [1:15:30] and his voicemails [1:15:31] is that he has said [1:15:32] he will employ [1:15:33] a medical facility [1:15:34] and that he wouldn't [1:15:35] come after me. [1:15:36] It's fine. [1:15:37] I'm in the arena. [1:15:38] So are these folks. [1:15:39] But we never expected [1:15:40] that the Department [1:15:41] of Justice [1:15:42] would not seek [1:15:43] to prosecute [1:15:44] and investigate [1:15:45] those who are making [1:15:46] threats against us [1:15:47] and that would include [1:15:48] those on that side [1:15:49] of the aisle [1:15:50] and I'm just asking [1:15:51] for your help [1:15:52] to protect life [1:15:53] because life is at risk [1:15:54] with the environment [1:15:56] we're in right now. [1:15:57] Congressman [1:15:58] I completely agree [1:15:59] with you. [1:16:00] I know about [1:16:01] several of those [1:16:02] personally involving you. [1:16:03] I believe [1:16:04] believe one has been charged publicly. And there's something I would be happy to talk to you about [1:16:11] off camera. But I can assure you that they are very serious. They are being looked into. And I [1:16:18] can give you more details on those. None of you should be threatened ever. None of your children [1:16:24] should be threatened. None of your families should be threatened. And I will work with you can come [1:16:30] into my office any day. I will work with all of you on both sides of the aisle if you are ever [1:16:36] threatened. And I would gladly talk to you after this hearing about your cases. But I can tell you [1:16:41] some of them are very active. Appreciate that. And you're back. Gentlemen, he was back. And we're [1:16:45] sorry for what the gentleman and his family have had to go through. We appreciate what the attorney [1:16:50] general said. And I think some of the things that the gentleman from California related, we can all [1:16:55] relate to. And it's unfortunate it's wrong, as the attorney general said. And we appreciate the help [1:16:59] we get from the general. [1:17:00] Thank you, Chairman. I don't know where to begin. Thank you for being here, General. You might see [1:17:12] me when I'm right in front of you. I just I have to mention this first. You know, I use this word [1:17:18] before my friends on the other side of the aisle got mad at me. But hypocrisy. Epstein, Epstein, [1:17:26] Epstein. But for years on the other side of the aisle, we heard nothing. Crickets, not a word. [1:17:33] Nothing was said when the attorney general was in office. And I think that's what we need to do. [1:17:34] And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what [1:17:34] we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think [1:17:35] that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. [1:17:36] And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what [1:17:37] we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think [1:17:38] that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. [1:17:39] And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what [1:17:40] we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do. And I think [1:17:41] last year yeah he did a letter complaining about the plea deal for Maxwell but it wasn't a big deal [1:17:48] then we get a new administration and all of a sudden it's a big deal and they feign concern [1:17:54] they're upset they're investigating they had all these years and all this time and in fact [1:18:00] Stacey Plaskett and we all know that name when they had a congressional hearing [1:18:04] Democratic member were taking texts from Epstein on questions to ask to go after Trump [1:18:13] so Epstein was using her Democratic colleague as a tool to go after President Trump just everybody [1:18:19] keep that in mind and then we talk about ICE and how horrible it is and there are concerns [1:18:23] everybody wants everything to challenge them to hurt them to attack them and that doesn't make [1:18:30] sense that's hypocrisy and then we hear about the concern of you know going after Democrats [1:18:35] that the legal system that judiciary and Department of Justice is going after Democrats [1:18:40] but they literally rework the legal system under Alvin Bragg and Letitia James to go after [1:18:49] Republicans and those sympathetic to Republicans so I mean be careful when you accuse others that [1:18:55] you're not guilty yourself be careful of what you say because you got a history and it's easy [1:19:01] to go over it you know I just want to talk about where we were and where we are now we had over [1:19:06] 10 million illegal crossings in the past between 2020 and 24 over 10 million there's probably a [1:19:12] much bigger number I'm being conservative we were told the people weren't dangerous but they were [1:19:17] general they were dangerous many of them more than 300 individuals on the terror watch list [1:19:23] during that time violent criminals came across as we saw consequences where mothers and fathers [1:19:29] children were raped murdered hurt abused beaten trafficked all from the drugs [1:19:37] my God the drugs they brought into our babies in this country 73 000 illegals with criminal histories [1:19:44] 20 000 with convictions of assault robbery and sex offenses 13 000 convicted murderers in our beautiful [1:19:52] defenders it was madness it was insanity it's bizarre it's it was madness it was insanity it's [1:19:58] bizarre it's perverse what in God's name were you doing so we finally are cleaning this up now we're [1:20:07] finally trying to make it right [1:20:09] for our people so my questions are this General do you believe in removing criminal illegal aliens [1:20:16] from our communities will save American lives yes and given the the cases that you just discussed [1:20:25] that's proof of it every single day President Trump is committed to that this entire cabinet [1:20:31] is committed to that and making and keeping Americans safe thank you would you agree that [1:20:36] and thank you for doing that would you agree that allowing individuals with known criminal histories [1:20:41] to enter and remain in the United States we knew this back then they knew it would you agree that [1:20:47] creates serious risks to our public safety I know the answers but let's just say them clearly yes [1:20:51] would you agree that when dangerous individuals are released instead of detained and they were [1:20:57] released over and over and over again and these are the real issues this is really what America [1:21:03] cares about they want their children and their families to be safe do you think if you release [1:21:09] them instead of detaining them that crimes will happen because of that [1:21:12] absolutely would you agree that I'm sorry and it did and it did thank you would you agree that [1:21:19] cooperation between and this is a biggie and I'm going to ask you to elaborate on this this is a [1:21:23] big deal this is why some of the problems we're seeing in some of the places like Minnesota are [1:21:28] happening that cooperation between federal and local enforcement which we always used to have [1:21:34] helps remove violent offenders from our communities that we should be a team yes and can you elaborate [1:21:43] on that a little bit in other words [1:21:44] when the local enforcement is forced by the politicians not their fault not to do their [1:21:50] job and not cooperate why does it create the situations that we see where we have need for [1:21:57] crowd control by the way they're not peaceful those are not peaceful protesters we know what [1:22:01] a peaceful protester is when you spit on law enforcement when you push them when you hit them [1:22:06] when you beat their card if you can answer the question thank you you may answer the question [1:22:12] thank you yes I spent four days [1:22:14] myself in Minnesota in Minneapolis what I will say about some of these Sanctuary cities some of [1:22:21] these Democratic cities law enforcement they quietly want to work with us I've spoken to law [1:22:26] enforcement in multiple cities who want to work with us and yes we're going to do everything we [1:22:34] can to keep our citizens safe whether or not these Democrat controlled Sanctuary cities do or don't [1:22:43] and damn it that's what really matters [1:22:45] Mr Chair I have a UC um Miss Crockett from Texas is recognized for UC thank you so much Donald Trump's [1:22:53] approval rating implodes on his strongest issue this is from Newsweek today it says 40 percent of [1:22:59] people thank you you don't need to read the article and border security while 60 disapproved [1:23:04] without objection admitted now I recognize the gentleman from California Mr Lou thank you [1:23:18] Attorney General Bonnie for being here today I'm going to show you two photos thank you I'm going to [1:23:23] show you two photos of former Prince Andrew Prince Andrew attended various parties with Jeffrey [1:23:31] Epstein under the law Congress passed you were allowed to redact photos to protect the victims [1:23:39] of Epstein's sex trafficking operation you redacted the photos of this victim's face because [1:23:47] you were following the congressional law is that correct I'm sorry that we redacted the victims [1:23:57] because you were following the congressional law correct yes okay [1:24:03] establish that we please put the photos back up that we are looking at a sex trafficking victim [1:24:09] under the federal victims trafficking Protection Act not only is Jeffrey Epstein guilty but anyone [1:24:17] who patronizes Epstein's sex operation is also guilty of a crime that's why I find it absolutely [1:24:25] despicable that you sought to protect Epstein's clients like former Prince Andrew last July you [1:24:33] closed the case [1:24:35] from Epstein's abusers the July 2025 memo from your Department of Justice stated quote we did [1:24:42] not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties [1:24:47] these two photos please put the photos back up these two photos staring you in the face [1:24:55] are evidence of a crime and more than enough evidence to predicate an investigation against [1:25:01] former Prince Andrew so I ask you Attorney General Pam Bondi why did you [1:25:07] step down this investigation last July and why have you not prosecuted former Prince Andrew I [1:25:13] don't believe you asked Merrick Garland these questions when he was um Attorney General and [1:25:18] set before I agree with you you twice I agree with you I agree with you during the during the [1:25:25] Biden administration I called for people looking at Epstein files Merrick Garland dropped the ball [1:25:31] as did Attorney General Bill Barr as did Alex Acosta a whole string of failures but you are in [1:25:38] power you have the power to change things to hold these men accountable and you're doing the opposite [1:25:42] you're protecting them so I want to move on to another man I want to move on another question [1:25:47] your question about protecting you answered the question you're saying no I love this I want to [1:25:52] discuss another man Donald Trump who is all over the Epstein files like former Prince here's a video [1:26:13] like former Prince Andrew Donald Trump attended various parties with Jeffrey Epstein I want to know [1:26:22] any underage girls at that party or at any party that Trump attended with Jeffrey Epstein this is [1:26:35] so ridiculous and that they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done [1:26:43] there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime everyone knows that this [1:26:48] has been the most transparent presidency he's the one I mean claim my time I got your answer [1:26:56] you said there's no evidence stop the clock [1:27:00] I'm going to put up another document from a witness who called the FBI's National Threat [1:27:12] operation center because I believe you just lied under oath there is ample evidence in the Epstein [1:27:18] don't you ever accuse me of a crime I believe you just lied under oath and this is on videotape you [1:27:24] said there's no evidence of crime I'm showing you here is a witness statement who called into the [1:27:30] F.U.I's [1:27:31] operation center he drove Donald Trump around in a limo he overheard what Donald Trump said to [1:27:37] Jeffrey on his cell phone he was so angry he was going to stop a limo and hurt Donald Trump and he [1:27:42] met a girl who said she was raped by Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein she later had her head blown [1:27:48] off and officers at the scene said that could not have been suicide no one no one at the [1:27:56] Department of Justice interviewed this witness you need to interview this witness immediately [1:28:04] Epstein should rot in hell so should the men who patronize this operation and as we sit here today [1:28:11] there are over 1 000 sex trafficking victims and you have not held a single man accountable [1:28:17] shame on you if you in any decency you would resign right after this camera [1:28:21] has expired uh may I respond yeah I don't know how you respond no one can I do that [1:28:29] He doesn't want to talk about the horrific crime in California. [1:28:33] He does not want to talk about crime in his state. [1:28:37] I did not ask a question. [1:28:40] Committee will be in order. [1:28:41] The gentleman is yielding back his time. [1:28:43] I think our next witness will be more than happy to let the Attorney General respond. [1:28:47] Madam Attorney General, would you like to respond? [1:28:48] The gentleman from Alabama is recognized for five minutes. [1:28:51] You have a few minutes to respond. [1:28:52] Thank you, Congressman. [1:28:54] This is what Congressman Lew didn't want to talk about. [1:28:58] He didn't want to talk about all the crime that is happening in his state. [1:29:06] California refuses to honor detainees because of its dangerous sanctuary city policies. [1:29:14] The refusal means California has released 4,561 criminal illegal aliens, criminal illegal [1:29:24] aliens onto its street. [1:29:26] The crimes of these aliens include [1:29:29] 31 homicides, 661 assaults, 574 burglaries, 184 robberies, 1,489 dangerous drug offenses, [1:29:48] 379 weapons offenses, and 234 sexual predator offenses. [1:29:58] That's why they are deflected. [1:29:59] That's why they are trying to talk about the Epstein files. [1:30:04] That's currently happening in his home state. [1:30:07] Attorney General, thank you for being here, and I want to make sure you had time [1:30:12] to respond. [1:30:13] I'm going to change gears a little bit. [1:30:16] In October, when you were testifying before the Senate, I know you and my friend Senator [1:30:19] Katie Britt discussed concerns of infiltration of the illegal Chinese vapes into our country. [1:30:26] As a father of three, obviously, I'm worried a little bit about this, and I believe that [1:30:29] many parents in the country share similar concerns. [1:30:30] I'm going to change gears a little bit. [1:30:31] Can you provide an update on DOJ's work in this space over the past few months? [1:30:36] Yes, and thank you for bringing that up. [1:30:41] We're talking about the vapes. [1:30:43] And this should be an issue where both sides of the aisle can work together on. [1:30:47] Parents need to understand, children need to understand that so many of these are being [1:30:54] manufactured in China, sent to our country, and have the potential to be laced with lethal [1:31:00] drugs. [1:31:02] We've seen an overdose. [1:31:04] We need to get on the front end of this before we have another crisis and children are dying. [1:31:09] I've partnered with Secretary Kennedy, of course, at HHS on this matter, but thank you [1:31:14] for bringing it up. [1:31:16] They're selling these things as flavored vapes illegally in many stores around the country. [1:31:25] Secretary Kennedy and I actually did a—we went and did something on this, and it was [1:31:30] sadly the day that Charlie Kirk was assassinated. [1:31:31] I'm sorry. [1:31:32] He was assassinated, and so it didn't get a lot of attention, nor should it have after [1:31:38] that happened. [1:31:39] But, yes, we're continuing to work on that, and thank you for bringing that up. [1:31:43] That's happening in all of our states, and I would ask everyone here—I know Congresswoman [1:31:47] Ross was just nodding—it's happening in every state. [1:31:51] And not only are they laced with THC, many of these vapes, but they could be laced with [1:31:57] fentanyl. [1:31:58] We have had a child—I wish I could think of the state it was in, but we have already [1:32:02] had someone. [1:32:03] They're on overdose, and we have to get together on this, and we have to get on the front end [1:32:07] of this, and I would love to work across the aisle on this to protect our kids. [1:32:13] How many school kids do you see now vaping? [1:32:16] And it's not only—I believe a vape has 20 cigarettes, but that's—one vape is 20 cigarettes, [1:32:24] I believe it is—but also what they could be laced with, because so many of them, the [1:32:29] majority of them, are manufactured in China. [1:32:31] Sure. [1:32:32] And if you need additional resources, please let us know as you're going through the process. [1:32:35] Thank you. [1:32:36] And I'm going to change gears one more time on you. [1:32:38] Under the Biden administration, there was a lot of confusion created when parts of the [1:32:43] DOJ began treating software developers like financial institutions. [1:32:48] Even when they did not hold or control anyone's money, they were simply building the technology. [1:32:52] That uncertainty certainly made it harder for Americans to build and innovate here at [1:32:56] home. [1:32:57] Earlier this year, the deputy attorney general issued a memo entitled, Ending Regulations [1:33:01] by Prosecution, a clear break from the Biden administration's approach. [1:33:06] And I think it's important that we—that's a good step in the right direction, but can [1:33:09] you talk a bit about how the DOJ is now putting that memo into practice, especially when it [1:33:13] comes to making sure that people are just writing the software and don't control the [1:33:17] user's funds and aren't—we don't want them treated as an unlicensed money—or they're [1:33:22] not money transmitters, so. [1:33:24] Yes, and we're doing everything we can to protect the American people on that. [1:33:27] And I would refer everyone to Deputy Attorney General Blanch's report. [1:33:30] Thank you. [1:33:31] That is—is memo, and we're working as hard as we can on that topic. [1:33:34] Sure, because we want to lead the way and the space on that, so we'd appreciate the [1:33:37] help. [1:33:38] And with that, Mr. Chairman, I'll yield back 10 seconds. [1:33:39] Thank you. [1:33:42] Gentleman yields back. [1:33:43] We'll recognize the gentleman from Arizona for unanimous consent. [1:33:44] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:33:45] I have a number of UCs. [1:33:46] Gentleman can proceed. [1:33:47] Thank you. [1:33:48] Bombshell new docs show Trump called police about Epstein in 2006. [1:33:51] Without objection. [1:33:52] Kamala Harris defends Biden administration decision not to release Epstein files. [1:33:57] Without objection. [1:33:58] Why weren't they released during the Biden administration? [1:34:02] Without objection. [1:34:03] House Democrats. [1:34:04] Democrat Stacey Plaskett exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing. [1:34:09] Without objection. [1:34:10] New York judge allows Epstein victims' claims against Plaskett to proceed. [1:34:14] Without objection. [1:34:15] Hakeem Jeffries solicited funding from Epstein in 2013 after financier was convicted child [1:34:20] sex offender. [1:34:21] Without objection. [1:34:22] Jeffrey Epstein was invited to DIMM fundraising dinner and to get to know Hakeem Jeffries [1:34:26] by firm working with Brooklyn's Barack. [1:34:29] Without objection. [1:34:30] An email from Leslie Groff to Jeffrey Epstein. [1:34:33] Without objection. [1:34:35] concerning Hakeem Jeffries fundraising Epstein file says Biden was replaced in [1:34:42] 2019 question mark that objection thank you gentlemen yields back the gentleman [1:34:48] from California is recognized mr. Kraff thank you mr. chairman and welcome miss [1:34:55] AG Bondi I agree with you our top priority should be protecting Americans [1:35:03] in my past life in the California State Legislature I did a lot of work on [1:35:08] solving sex crimes passing legislation to update our codes and I found that the [1:35:14] biggest challenge to solving sex crimes is reporting them victims have to have [1:35:21] the guts to stand up to report those sex crimes but it's not easy it's the most [1:35:27] unreported sex crime there is I'm just crime there is is sex crimes it's [1:35:32] painful humiliating a lot of time the victims don't think anything's gonna [1:35:36] come out of their reporting these crimes then we have adults who have [1:35:42] children were molested boys and girls who will live in silence for the rest of [1:35:48] their life I believe the Epstein files are just one of many sex ring sex crimes [1:35:56] taking place in our society today I hear 1,200 Epstein victims some additional [1:36:04] victims as young or nine to ten years old the challenge I have today what [1:36:10] bothers me today about this hearing madam AG is what's the message we're [1:36:15] sending out there on Main Street shouldn't ask [1:36:19] a question I don't know an answer to but I'm gonna ask the victims behind you [1:36:23] right now first can you please stand up and then can you please raise your hand [1:36:31] if you think after everything you've heard today you feel there are AG the [1:36:37] feds have your back do we have your back raise your hand if you're confident that [1:36:42] we got your back and that's the issue madam AG we've got to make sure that [1:36:48] victims stand up and report the crimes otherwise we're gonna be taking step [1:36:54] both on you and there's all kinds of options that but before you come up [1:36:56] children it's more importantly that we make sure this doesn't happen because [1:37:00] we have these [1:37:21] wäre [1:37:24] is wrong these are very powerful people this was a very expensive [1:37:29] business and we don't know who they are i don't imagine they're very prominent republicans [1:37:37] very republican democrats and we are covering up for them we got to know what's going on out [1:37:44] there madam a.g it looks like you want to say something i'm going to give the opportunity to [1:37:49] address my statement i look forward to working with you on any crimes involving child sex [1:37:58] predators children and also cyber crimes that is a tremendous problem now throughout our country [1:38:04] ai you are correct ai is causing um great problems online regarding we're working on that though [1:38:12] ai is an incredible tool but it also can be fraught with peril with victims of of crime [1:38:18] i've experienced that with someone i know who we've been trying to help i look forward though [1:38:22] to working with you on that and all cyber crimes can i can i please go ahead and and as i said [1:38:29] before to any victims we ask them to come forward to our office [1:38:34] and we want to work with them i have never not worked with a victim and i believe i've actually [1:38:39] spoken to several of them madam if i can reclaim my time behind me i can reclaim my time i just [1:38:46] think we start out by making sure those redactions are unredacted those epstein files to make sure [1:38:52] that the public according to the law following the law that those names in those files are made [1:39:00] public we have to make sure we tell those predators there is no place for them to hide [1:39:06] if they commit the crime they're going to fry for it it starts with showing us the names of the [1:39:12] perpetrators in the epstein files may i respond to that sure okay so if any man's name was redacted [1:39:23] that should not have been we will of course unredacted if a victim's name was unredacted [1:39:31] please bring it to us and we will redact it we were given 30 days to review and [1:39:39] redact and unredact millions of pages of documents our error rate is very low but the victims are [1:39:48] right behind you we've got to convince them that we're doing a good job everything we can protecting [1:39:54] the victims we will do everything we can gentlemen yields back the gentleman from california mr kiley [1:40:00] is recognized thank you mr chair uh good morning madam attorney general i wanted to return to a [1:40:05] point uh that the chairman raised at the beginning of this hearing uh which is these jurisdictions [1:40:10] refused to offer to honor detainer requests from immigration and customs enforcement often [1:40:15] called sanctuary uh jurisdictions uh now i know that you are not involved directly [1:40:20] in immigration operations per se but you do deal with the legal issues [1:40:25] surrounding these jurisdictions so let's say we have someone who's here illegally [1:40:29] uh who has committed a crime that like the thousands of people you mentioned in california [1:40:33] murderers sexual predators uh drug traffickers if that individual is uh in detention in a jurisdiction [1:40:40] as a sanctuary policy where they do not honor ICE detainers [1:40:44] versus in any other jurisdiction where they do, [1:40:48] how does the nature of apprehending that person, [1:40:52] how does the nature of ICE's involvement [1:40:54] in that operation differ in those two circumstances? [1:40:59] Well, I believe you've seen that in Minnesota [1:41:02] where people were not cooperating with us. [1:41:05] I believe there a lot of local law enforcement [1:41:07] did want to cooperate, [1:41:09] but we are doing everything in our power [1:41:12] to arrest and deport illegal criminal aliens, [1:41:17] and that is not going to stop [1:41:19] under Donald Trump's administration. [1:41:22] You know, why sanctuary cities are so dangerous, [1:41:25] what we've seen in Minneapolis. [1:41:26] Where do all the criminals go? [1:41:28] The gangs, TDA, MS-13, where are they gonna go? [1:41:32] They're gonna go to a sanctuary jurisdiction [1:41:34] because they believe they're protected, [1:41:36] and that's not fair to the citizens of those cities. [1:41:39] Yeah. [1:41:39] But this is a point that there at least used to be [1:41:42] a lot of consensus on. [1:41:44] The idea that, you know, it's better to do a handoff [1:41:48] to the immigration authorities in a custodial setting [1:41:50] rather than releasing them [1:41:51] where they have to be apprehended in the community. [1:41:53] This is Alejandro Mayorkas [1:41:55] when he was before this committee, [1:41:56] not exactly a paragon of border security, [1:42:00] but he said, I do not consider it [1:42:01] in the service of public safety [1:42:03] to release an individual into the community [1:42:05] when that individual can be released [1:42:07] to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for prompt, [1:42:09] prompt removal. [1:42:10] Now, his words are one thing, his actions are another. [1:42:13] But when you have jurisdictions across the country, [1:42:16] including my state of California, [1:42:18] doing systematically, precisely the thing [1:42:20] that even Alejandro Mayorkas said threatens public safety, [1:42:23] I mean, what does that say to you? [1:42:26] It's a danger to the citizens of your community, [1:42:29] and thank you for fighting to protect them. [1:42:32] Absolutely. [1:42:32] And, you know, we're having this conversation right now [1:42:34] in relation to Homeland Security funding, [1:42:36] and I believe there are some common sense reforms [1:42:38] that have been proposed that folks on both sides would agree, [1:42:42] and it makes sense, but those reforms have to go hand-in-hand [1:42:45] with reforming this reckless practice [1:42:48] of refusing to cooperate, refusing to honor detainers, [1:42:51] and declaring oneself to be a sanctuary. [1:42:53] So I'm hoping that we can find bipartisan support [1:42:56] for what has long been a bipartisan principle. [1:43:00] I wanna go to a second topic, which is the school board memo, [1:43:03] which I know that you have rescinded, [1:43:06] and it was initially promulgated by Attorney General Garland, [1:43:12] when he came into office with President Biden, [1:43:15] essentially opening an investigation into parents [1:43:19] who are showing up at school board meetings [1:43:21] and expressing their views on COVID policies, [1:43:24] masks, various other issues, [1:43:27] and using the full apparatus of federal law enforcement [1:43:31] and counterterrorism to go after these parents. [1:43:33] Now, he said this was because there was an increase [1:43:35] of threats, but when even his own FBI director, [1:43:38] Christopher Wray, was before this committee, [1:43:40] he said there was no evidence of an increase of threats. [1:43:41] Yet, nevertheless, when I asked him [1:43:44] if he regretted the memo, Attorney General Garland said [1:43:48] there was absolutely nothing wrong with the memo. [1:43:51] Now, I take it you disagree with that, [1:43:53] having now rescinded it? [1:43:56] Absolutely, that was one of the main focuses [1:44:00] of President Trump and this administration. [1:44:02] We will protect parents at school boards. [1:44:05] We will protect children in schools. [1:44:07] We will protect parents' rights [1:44:09] for their children's education [1:44:12] in our school system in this country. [1:44:15] We will protect Christians. [1:44:16] We will protect everyone who wants to freely protest. [1:44:21] If Christians want to protest in front of an abortion clinic [1:44:25] without being arrested, they will do so. [1:44:28] Thank you very much. [1:44:29] And finally, I thank you for your efforts [1:44:31] to step up the detection and rooting out of fraud. [1:44:35] My home state is California. [1:44:37] Any idea if there might be any fraud going on in California? [1:44:39] Well, we are establishing, as you have heard, a fraud, [1:44:43] a fraud unit, and I'm sorry you're having to deal with that [1:44:45] in your state, but the Calvary's coming. [1:44:48] And we have Colin McDonald, [1:44:49] who hopefully will be confirmed soon. [1:44:51] We're working on Minneapolis. [1:44:53] I don't know if you were sitting here when I said that, [1:44:54] but California was right up there. [1:44:57] I'm sorry to say, for both sides of the aisle, [1:44:59] that California is right up there with fraud. [1:45:02] It's out of control, but we are coming to your rescue. [1:45:04] Donald Trump is coming to the rescue. [1:45:06] Well, thank you very much. [1:45:07] And unfortunately, I think you'll find [1:45:08] that what's happening in California pales [1:45:10] in comparison to what's been going on in Minnesota. [1:45:12] Thank you. I yield back. [1:45:13] Gentleman yields back. [1:45:14] The gentleman from Maryland is recognized. [1:45:17] Actually, I think the gentlelady from Pennsylvania. [1:45:19] Gentlelady from Pennsylvania is recognized. [1:45:21] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:45:22] Ms. Bondi, I'm here. [1:45:24] On September 25th, President Trump signed a memorandum [1:45:27] known as NSPM 7, purporting to address domestic terrorism. [1:45:33] But Americans across the political spectrum [1:45:36] were immediately alarmed by the memo's blurring of the line [1:45:39] between unlawful conduct and constitutionally protected [1:45:43] speech and activity, as well as its call to investigate, [1:45:48] prosecute, and dismantle groups that the president [1:45:52] and Stephen Miller described without evidence as, quote, [1:45:55] an organized campaign of radical left terrorism. [1:46:00] Now, counterterrorism experts were further alarmed [1:46:02] by the administration's singular focus on left-wing extremism, [1:46:07] combined with the sudden deletion from the DOJ website [1:46:12] of decades of research. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:13] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:14] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:15] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:16] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] Thank you. [1:46:17] that right-wing extremism poses the greatest terrorism threat [1:46:22] to Americans. [1:46:23] The president's memo broadly and vaguely links violent conduct [1:46:27] to ideologies, and it targeted specifically [1:46:30] anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-capitalist beliefs, [1:46:35] as well as, quote, hostility to so-called traditional American [1:46:39] views on family, religion, and morality, end quote. [1:46:43] President Trump has repeatedly and openly, however falsely, [1:46:46] tried to brand his political opponents [1:46:49] with these sentiments listed in his memo. [1:46:51] But as you know, as a lawyer, holding beliefs [1:46:54] that the White House disagrees with is not a crime. [1:46:58] And the statute defining domestic terrorism [1:47:00] requires criminal acts, not just thoughts and ideas. [1:47:04] That's why legal experts, nonprofit leaders, [1:47:06] religious freedom, and civil rights advocates immediately [1:47:10] raised the alarm that the new presidential directive was [1:47:13] a politically motivated attack on civil society, [1:47:16] designed to silence those who disagree [1:47:18] with the administration. [1:47:20] So Ms. Bondi, section 3 of that memo [1:47:23] directed you, as attorney general, [1:47:26] to submit to the president and Stephen Miller [1:47:29] a list of groups or entities whose members are engaged [1:47:32] in acts that meet the definition of domestic terrorism. [1:47:36] And then on December 4, you directed the FBI [1:47:39] to work with a variety of law enforcement entities [1:47:43] to compile a list of groups and entities engaged, [1:47:46] in such acts, by January 3, 2026, [1:47:50] and to update that report every 30 days thereafter. [1:47:54] So can we assume that you or persons [1:47:56] under your direction at the Department of Justice [1:47:59] have prepared that list of groups or entities [1:48:03] who are designated as domestic terrorist organizations? [1:48:06] And I just remind you, that's a yes or no question. [1:48:08] Did you prepare the list? [1:48:09] Well, I'm not going to answer a yes or no. [1:48:11] But what I will say is I know Antifa is part of that. [1:48:15] I will talk to you about that. [1:48:16] OK. [1:48:16] And on February 5, 2025, an Antifa member [1:48:21] was arrested in Minneapolis, federal court for civil snarky. [1:48:25] They ask a question and don't want an answer. [1:48:28] The answer is yes or no. [1:48:30] So I'm do along to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania. [1:48:31] Gentlelady can proceed. [1:48:33] OK. [1:48:34] So will you commit to providing this committee [1:48:39] with any list of organizations that you have recommended [1:48:43] be designated as domestic terrorist organizations? [1:48:50] We will comply. [1:48:51] We will comply with the law in all matters. [1:48:53] Will you commit to provide this committee with your list [1:48:58] of entities that you recommend be designated [1:49:02] as domestic terrorist organizations? [1:49:06] I'm not going to commit to anything to you [1:49:08] because you won't let me answer questions. [1:49:10] OK. [1:49:10] Well, then we do understand that your current position is [1:49:14] that you have a secret list of people or groups [1:49:17] that you are accusing of domestic terrorism, [1:49:20] but you won't share it with Congress. [1:49:22] And I'd remind you that when the US government designates [1:49:26] an entity as a foreign terrorist organization, [1:49:29] it must report that to Congress and to the entity [1:49:33] because the government can make a mistake [1:49:36] and the entity has the opportunity to contest it. [1:49:38] So your position seems to be that if you falsely [1:49:41] designate an American or an American organization [1:49:44] as a terrorist group, there's nothing they can do about it. [1:49:49] I think we get it. [1:49:51] You don't want to answer the question. [1:49:52] Now, you don't get anything regarding public health. [1:49:54] You don't get anything regarding public safety. [1:49:55] Thank you. [1:49:55] Nothing. [1:49:56] Thank you for the insult. [1:49:58] It's clear you didn't come to Congress prepared [1:50:00] to answer questions that the American people have [1:50:03] every right to have answered. [1:50:05] But if you were prepared to answer truthfully, [1:50:08] here's what we expect the facts to show. [1:50:10] The administration is keeping lists [1:50:12] of Americans who the White House says are [1:50:14] engaged in domestic terrorism. [1:50:16] Those lists could include Americans [1:50:18] who have not committed any acts of terrorism [1:50:21] but simply disagree with this administration, people [1:50:24] like Renee Goode and Alex Preti. [1:50:27] And your list may include clergy, elected officials [1:50:30] and members of indivisible groups across the country. [1:50:34] And those lists likely don't include [1:50:36] Proud Boys or Oath Keepers who were actually convicted. [1:50:40] Americans have never tolerated political demagogues [1:50:44] who use the government to punish people on an enemies list. [1:50:47] It brought down McCarthy, it brought down Nixon, [1:50:50] and it will bring down this administration as well. [1:50:53] And you're right. [1:50:54] They yield back. [1:50:54] That's why we're so glad they rescinded the memorandum [1:50:58] targeting parents. [1:51:00] Goodness sake, as the gentleman from California [1:51:02] just pointed out in his five minutes, [1:51:04] the gentleman from Kentucky is recognized for five minutes. [1:51:07] May I respond very briefly to her statement? [1:51:10] I think we can do that probably on one of our members' time. [1:51:14] Thank you. [1:51:15] I don't want that to get away. [1:51:16] Thank you. [1:51:17] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:51:18] Behind me, I have three documents [1:51:20] from the DOJ production that are emblematic of the massive [1:51:24] failure of the DOJ. [1:51:24] Next. [1:51:25] This is a document from the DOJ to comply with the Epstein [1:51:28] Files Transparency Act. [1:51:30] To my right is an email that was sent by the victim's lawyers [1:51:34] to the DOJ. [1:51:35] It was a list of names not to redact, or sorry, [1:51:38] a list of names not to release. [1:51:41] What did the DOJ do with this email? [1:51:43] They released this email in the document production. [1:51:47] Literally, the worst thing you could do to the survivors, [1:51:51] you did. [1:51:52] And they're getting phone calls. [1:51:54] A lot of these people didn't want to be known. [1:51:56] They didn't want to be known. [1:51:58] They didn't want to be known. [1:51:59] And they didn't want to be known. [1:52:00] So you redacted the document because you redacted one name. [1:52:04] And you redacted the lawyer's name, [1:52:06] but you left the survivor's name there. [1:52:08] The next document I want to show you, [1:52:11] and that was in the title, the victim's survivor's names, [1:52:15] right. [1:52:16] The title of this one is Child Sex Trafficking, [1:52:19] Co-Conspirators, Fully Redacted. [1:52:24] And by the way, I'm going to unredact them here, [1:52:28] Les Wexner is in this. [1:52:30] He said, oh, well, he appears hundreds of times in the files. [1:52:34] But he doesn't appear in this file [1:52:36] until I forced you to release it, where he's [1:52:39] listed as a co-conspirator, not to tax evasion, [1:52:43] but to child sex trafficking, not to prostitution, not [1:52:48] to money laundering, child sex trafficking. [1:52:53] And then finally, what we have here, the third exhibit [1:52:57] that I have is emblematic of the FD302 release. [1:53:01] These are the documents that we need [1:53:04] that you're holding on to and over-redacting because they [1:53:07] have the names of the men who are implicated. [1:53:11] How do we know? [1:53:13] Because the survivors gave testimony to the FBI, [1:53:18] and it's in there. [1:53:19] And what happens when you go to the portal at the DOJ [1:53:22] to look at what's behind this redaction? [1:53:25] Another redaction. [1:53:26] So we can't even see them. [1:53:28] And then there's some of these files [1:53:30] you've pulled down from the website, [1:53:32] that we will never see because we can't search the redactions. [1:53:38] So I have several questions for you. [1:53:41] Who's responsible? [1:53:42] Are you able to track who in your organization made this massive failure and released the [1:53:48] victims' names? [1:53:49] Are you able to track who it was that obscured Les Wexner's name as a co-conspirator in an [1:53:56] FBI document? [1:53:57] Do you have that kind of accountability? [1:54:02] I believe Wexner's name was listed more than 4,000 times about— [1:54:07] Yeah, I already told you that. [1:54:08] This is where he's listed as a co-conspirator. [1:54:10] Can I finish my answer? [1:54:12] Come on. [1:54:13] Let me finish my answer. [1:54:15] We corrected that within 40 minutes. [1:54:18] He was already—you're acting like everybody's trying to cover up Wexner's name. [1:54:21] Reclaiming my time. [1:54:22] I'm going to answer this question. [1:54:24] Reclaiming my time. [1:54:25] He was— [1:54:26] Mr. Chairman— [1:54:27] This isn't how this works. [1:54:28] Can I have my time back? [1:54:29] He was— [1:54:30] Mr. Chairman— [1:54:31] The gentlelady can give her answer. [1:54:32] The time belongs to the gentleman from Kentucky. [1:54:33] All right. [1:54:34] I'm reclaiming my time. [1:54:35] Can I give my answer? [1:54:36] Yes. [1:54:37] So I'm going to put the language of the bill up on the screen. [1:54:38] Chairman, may I give my answer on that? [1:54:40] Because I have another question. [1:54:41] It's a political joke, and I need to give my answer on that. [1:54:45] We'll let the attorney general respond, and then the gentleman can move to his next question. [1:54:49] Chairman, it's my time. [1:54:50] Chairman— [1:54:51] Within 40 minutes, you asked me a question. [1:54:52] You can give me— [1:54:53] Within 40 minutes, Wexner's name was added back in— [1:54:56] Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed. [1:54:59] Red-handed. [1:55:00] There was one redaction— [1:55:01] Where he— [1:55:02] Where he's listed as a co-conspirator. [1:55:03] —of over 4,700. [1:55:04] Okay. [1:55:05] And we invited you in. [1:55:06] Gentlemen— [1:55:07] This guy has Trump derangement syndrome. [1:55:08] Gentlemen— [1:55:09] He needs to get— [1:55:10] You're a failed politician. [1:55:11] Gentlemen— [1:55:12] You need to get— [1:55:13] I don't want you to watch the video. [1:55:14] Mr. Chairman, please restore his time and remind the witness of the rules here. [1:55:17] There is no credible information, none. [1:55:19] If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals. [1:55:25] Is that your position as well? [1:55:28] My position is any victim who comes forward— [1:55:33] Of course. [1:55:34] Of course. [1:55:35] We would love to hear from them. [1:55:37] 1-800-CALL-FBI. [1:55:40] Did you ask Merrick Garland that the last four years? [1:55:43] Did you talk about Epstein— [1:55:45] I am reclaiming my time. [1:55:46] —at all the last four years? [1:55:47] I'm glad you're asking about Merrick Garland— [1:55:48] You don't get a reclaimed time when you don't— [1:55:49] —because this is bigger than Watergate. [1:55:51] —when I don't answer a question the way you want. [1:55:53] This goes over four administrations. [1:55:55] You don't have to go back to Biden. [1:55:57] Let's go back to Obama. [1:55:58] Let's go back to George Bush. [1:55:59] Let's go. [1:56:00] This cover-up spans decades. [1:56:02] You are responsible for this portion of it. [1:56:05] I want to know, at what point did the FBI and the DOJ decide that Lex Wessner was not a co-conspirator? [1:56:14] Because our Epstein Files Transparency Act requires you— [1:56:18] Time is up. [1:56:19] Please put it back on the screen. [1:56:22] To release the internal decision about whether to prosecute him or not, and it's not in the files, and it's not in the files for any of these other men. [1:56:30] The time of the gentleman has expired. [1:56:32] Which—may she answer? [1:56:34] And he's a hypocrite because he voted against the ban that we were talking about on deep fake AI porn. [1:56:41] Only two people voted against it, and you were one of them, hypocrite. [1:56:47] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:56:49] She didn't answer the question. [1:56:51] Mr. Chairman— [1:56:52] Yeah, I went, Mr. Chairman, could she answer the question? [1:56:54] Chairman, I was wondering— [1:56:55] The gentlelady's allowed—the attorney general's allowed to respond the way she wants to respond to any member's questions. [1:57:00] Republican, Democrat— [1:57:01] I have unanimous consent request. [1:57:03] Gentleman's recognized for a U.C. [1:57:05] All right. [1:57:06] This is an example. [1:57:07] I'm submitting these 302 forms that are entirely redacted. [1:57:11] Even when you go to look at them— [1:57:13] Without objection. [1:57:14] I'm submitting a witness statement that implicates Les Wexner. [1:57:18] Without objection. [1:57:19] I'm submitting an article from the New York Times that the DOJ released nude photos and— [1:57:24] Without objection. [1:57:25] Identifiable pictures of the victims. [1:57:29] I'm submitting a letter from A.G. [1:57:31] Bonney to Kash Patel. [1:57:33] Imploring him to quit keeping the files when you found out that they were keeping files from you. [1:57:41] Because they're still redacting files that you— [1:57:44] Chairman, are we going to— [1:57:45] I am going to recess for votes. [1:57:47] Yes, we are. [1:57:48] I'm submitting, for unanimous consent, a document of 17 individuals who've resigned because of the Epstein files. [1:57:54] Without objection. [1:57:55] I just want to check on what time—what time—how much time we have left in votes. [1:58:04] But one thing I've learned here of late that they'll wait on us. [1:58:09] How much time do we have? [1:58:10] How much time do we have? [1:58:12] Oh, they just called. [1:58:15] Okay. [1:58:16] Okay. [1:58:17] The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Maryland. [1:58:19] And thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:58:21] I want to start by saying I appreciate what you said, Attorney General Bonney, and you've said it to me personally, [1:58:27] that you take the personal security of every member of Congress seriously and that people can contact you about that. [1:58:33] And in these times, that's a very serious matter. [1:58:36] So I thank you for that. [1:58:38] Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7 of the Constitution is the Domestic Emoluments Clause. [1:58:43] And it says that the president is limited to his salary in office and cannot receive any other money from the federal government while he's in office. [1:58:53] It cannot be increased by $1. [1:58:56] This president is the first president in U.S. history who has repeatedly sued the federal government. [1:59:02] Sued the federal government for $230 million for the judicial search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, which was perfectly lawful and was never struck down. [1:59:11] But now he's suing the IRS for $10 billion. [1:59:15] He's suing the IRS for $10 billion, which I think is around 80% of its annual budget, because his tax returns were leaked. [1:59:25] And they were illegally leaked by a private contractor who actually is in prison now, Charles Littlejohn. [1:59:31] But he wants $10 billion. [1:59:33] Now, I want to ask you the question of whether you think it would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause [1:59:40] for you to settle that $10 billion. [1:59:42] Or any of the other claims that the president has made against the government. [1:59:47] He himself has remarked, it's interesting because I'm the one that makes the deal, right? [1:59:53] And he says, I kind of have to work it out with myself. [1:59:56] Do you think it would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause for the president to work out a deal from people who are his subordinates under his unitary executive theory to get money in one of these cases? [2:00:07] I'm not going to discuss pending litigation. [2:00:11] Okay. [2:00:12] Theoretically, you're saying because his privacy rights were violated in that tax case, and they were. [2:00:19] I'm with the president on that. [2:00:20] I mean, his Mar-a-Lago thing is ridiculous. [2:00:22] But there's no doubt that his tax returns, despite the fact that he promised to release them, despite the fact that every other president released the tax returns, he suffered embarrassment when it showed that he hadn't paid taxes for several years. [2:00:34] And he had a right for that not to happen. [2:00:36] Now, I want to turn back to the Epstein survivors. [2:00:40] Because President Trump may have been a little bit embarrassed by the release of those tax returns. [2:00:49] How much do you think the claims of these survivors are worth? [2:00:55] As the good congressman from Kentucky just pointed out, there were lots of survivors who had decided, for reasons of their own, never to release their names. [2:01:06] That determination was represented to people in Congress. [2:01:09] And we built it into this. [2:01:10] And we built it into our federal law that their names could not be released. [2:01:14] And yet you published their names, their phone numbers, their addresses, personally identifying information. [2:01:20] If Donald Trump can get $10 billion, theoretically, from the Department of Justice, how much should these people get for a far worse violation of their privacy rights and a far greater danger established to them in their lives? [2:01:35] Do you even know who Chase Mulligan is? [2:01:42] You're so obsessed with—you don't. [2:01:44] I'm going to teach you the rules again. [2:01:45] You're the Attorney General of the United States. [2:01:46] We have rules here. [2:01:47] You're obsessed with him. [2:01:48] You're the Attorney General of the United States. [2:01:49] You're obsessed with Donald Trump. [2:01:50] You have Trump derangement syndrome. [2:01:51] Mr. Chairman, I'd like my time restored. [2:01:52] Chase Mulligan will be sentenced next week in your district. [2:01:53] In your district. [2:01:54] Stop the clock. [2:01:55] And you don't even know about it. [2:01:56] About keeping children safe from online predators. [2:01:57] Time belongs to the gentleman from Maryland. [2:01:58] The gentleman can proceed. [2:01:59] And I just—I want the whole country to look at this. [2:02:00] Because this is the Attorney General of the United States whose job is law enforcement. [2:02:01] We've never had a law enforcement officer. [2:02:02] We've never had a law enforcement officer. [2:02:03] We've never had a law enforcement officer. [2:02:04] We've never had a witness who has misunderstood our rules and been unable to conform his or [2:02:19] her conduct to our rules before. [2:02:22] We have only five minutes. [2:02:24] And so we use our time to ask you specific questions. [2:02:27] How long are you giving me to answer? [2:02:28] Excuse me. [2:02:29] I'm not yielding to you right now. [2:02:31] I'd like that second restored, too. [2:02:33] So Ms. Bondy. [2:02:34] The way it works is we ask you a question. [2:02:37] And you answer it. [2:02:38] And if you go off on a wild goose chase, another tangent, and you start reading statistics, [2:02:43] or you start talking about stuff going on in our district—and by the way, I invite [2:02:46] you to my district. [2:02:47] Come to my district. [2:02:48] But that's not what we're here to do today. [2:02:50] Okay? [2:02:51] So—and you do that. [2:02:52] Then we're allowed to say we reclaim our time. [2:02:54] At that point, you have to be quiet. [2:02:57] You have no choice. [2:02:58] You have to be quiet. [2:02:59] So I hope you understand the rule of this point. [2:03:01] Now here's what I want to ask you. [2:03:04] You're in law enforcement. [2:03:05] You've seen all kinds of evidence of crimes. [2:03:08] And when we go over to the Department of Justice for the four computers for every member of [2:03:11] Congress, we see more evidence of crimes. [2:03:14] Will you create a joint task force of the Department of Justice and governors and state [2:03:20] attorney generals and district attorneys across the country to investigate the crimes that [2:03:25] have taken place against these victims and more than a thousand like them? [2:03:29] The DOJ is not doing its job. [2:03:31] Will you create a task force with state and local law enforcement to make that happen? [2:03:35] Mr. Chairman. [2:03:40] The gentlelady can respond if she wants to. [2:03:43] Thank you, Chairman. [2:03:44] He called Chase Mulligan a wild goose chase and didn't even know who he was. [2:03:49] He is a defendant in your own district who preyed on girls ages 15 to 17 in social media [2:03:57] and online chat rooms and committed sexortion, yet he didn't even know in your tiny little [2:04:05] district who he was? [2:04:06] Mr. Chairman, she's embarrassing you. [2:04:08] This is your committee. [2:04:09] And she is embarrassing you. [2:04:10] The time of the gentleman has expired. [2:04:14] I would remind the committee that last Congress, Secretary Mayorkas was here numerous times [2:04:19] and he wouldn't answer our questions even when we sent them to him ahead of time in [2:04:23] writing. [2:04:24] So that's what we've had to deal with. [2:04:27] I think the Attorney General is doing just fine. [2:04:29] We have votes shortly. [2:04:30] I will go to the gentleman from Virginia and then we will take a break to head to the floor. [2:04:35] I thank the Chairman, Attorney General Bondi. [2:04:38] Thank you for being here. [2:04:39] And I wanted to thank you for your work. [2:04:41] Your work at DOJ in restoring the rule of law, encouraging transparency surrounding [2:04:46] Jack Smith's partisan investigations into President Trump, declassifying information [2:04:50] about the Russia collusion hoax, cracking down on sanctuary jurisdictions and establishing [2:04:55] the National Fraud Enforcement Division. [2:04:57] Let me first go to securing the border and immigration enforcement. [2:05:02] Our new governor has recently rescinded 287 cooperation between the state and ICE. [2:05:09] Can you talk about? [2:05:10] Have you evaluated the public safety impact? [2:05:12] How that would affect safety in Virginia to withdraw that support and what that would [2:05:18] do to activity, criminal activity involving illegal immigrants in Virginia? [2:05:23] Yes, it would be detrimental. [2:05:27] And as you know, Congressman, we one of the top members of MS 13 in the entire country [2:05:36] was living in Virginia. [2:05:39] Yeah. [2:05:40] In a suburb. [2:05:41] Um. [2:05:43] Among all of us, living not even probably half an hour away from where we are now. [2:05:49] And the cooperation previously with the governor, with the members, the members of the state [2:05:58] of Virginia helped catch him and take him off our streets. [2:06:03] An illegal MS 13, one of the heads for the entire country, was living in Virginia. [2:06:09] And it's a shame that that's happening now. [2:06:11] And thank you for bringing it to the table. [2:06:12] Thank you. [2:06:13] Thank you for bringing it, talking about it, because we're going to keep America safe. [2:06:19] And when people feel like they can flee to these cities and states and be safe, they [2:06:24] can't. [2:06:25] Because Donald Trump is going to protect Americans. [2:06:28] We're going to protect the citizens there, whether or not the governors, the mayors are [2:06:32] going to do it or not. [2:06:33] But President Trump is. [2:06:35] We're going to keep Americans safe from violent gang members like he's been doing this last [2:06:39] year. [2:06:40] We appreciate that. [2:06:41] We appreciate your work to make that happen in Virginia and keep Virginia safe. [2:06:43] I want to move on to the Fraud Enforcement Division that you've established. [2:06:49] My understanding is that this initiative is intended to centralize, coordinate enforcement [2:06:53] of fraud laws related to government programs. [2:06:54] You've talked about Minnesota. [2:06:55] You've talked about California. [2:06:57] Would this affect Virginia as well? [2:06:59] Because we have fraud in Virginia as well. [2:07:02] Absolutely. [2:07:03] And we look forward to working with you. [2:07:06] Would this affect things like long-term care, accountability, senior living facilities engaged [2:07:11] in Medicaid fraud, including systemic over-billing practices and the misappropriation of health? [2:07:12] Would this affect Virginia as well? [2:07:13] Absolutely. [2:07:14] And we look forward to working with you. [2:07:15] We'll also like to know how you manage the administration of taxpayer-funded benefits. [2:07:16] That is exactly what it's set up to help. [2:07:19] Okay. [2:07:20] I know that whether it was related to fraud specifically or another subject, that under [2:07:26] the Biden administration, there was a sitting member of the Virginia General Assembly under [2:07:32] investigation. [2:07:34] Is that investigation still ongoing? [2:07:35] Can you speak to that? [2:07:39] I can't discuss that. [2:07:40] Okay. [2:07:42] I'm going to move on to the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. [2:07:48] Last year, President Trump signed the one big beautiful bill into law, which included [2:07:55] the Hearing Protection Act, part of it that was sponsored by myself and Congressman Clyde. [2:08:01] It reduced the national firearms tax, $200 tax on suppressors and short-barreled firearms [2:08:05] to zero. [2:08:06] And while the tax has been eliminated, the NFA's registration and paperwork requirements [2:08:10] were made in effect. [2:08:12] And your, your DOJ has said that that would, even though the tax was reduced to zero, that [2:08:22] the registration requirement is still somehow necessary, even though with regard to Obamacare [2:08:30] and the Affordable Care Act, when that mandate was, when that tax penalty was reduced to [2:08:36] zero, you decided that the mandate was no longer necessary. [2:08:38] How are you, how are you justifying the existence of this registry? [2:08:43] Congressman, that's pending litigation right now. [2:08:48] It is. [2:08:49] It is. [2:08:50] And I would hope you would reconsider, you would reconsider that. [2:08:52] I yield back. [2:08:53] The gentleman yield. [2:08:54] I yield to the chairman. [2:08:55] I think, I think that Attorney General Bondi, why did Jack Smith have to pay some secret [2:09:00] source $20,000 of taxpayer money? [2:09:03] Do you know the answer to that? [2:09:07] I can't discuss anything on that matter, but that's a good question, Chairman Jordan. [2:09:12] Well said, it's a good question because he subpoenaed just about every Republican in [2:09:16] this town. [2:09:17] Got half the Congress's phone number. [2:09:18] I don't know the numbers if you were a Republican, but he has to pay some secret source, a bunch [2:09:23] of taxpayer money. [2:09:24] We'd like to know, the committee would like to know, how many other sources he paid? [2:09:27] Was it more than $20,000? [2:09:29] Why he had to do those things? [2:09:30] We'd like to know when you can, if you could get that information to the committee. [2:09:33] I think when you think about the guy who was trying to put the President of the United [2:09:36] States in prison, ridiculous as that whole thing was, we'd kind of like to know the answer [2:09:42] to that, if you could. [2:09:43] And with that, we're going to stand in recess. [2:09:45] We will go as quickly as we can and vote. [2:09:46] We have two quick votes on the floor and we will be back. [2:09:49] There is actually some lunch, if you all need it. [2:09:51] We have for our members, and since you're back here, you can have some. [2:09:54] We normally have plenty. [2:09:55] Mr. Chairman. [2:09:56] We'll take a recess. [2:09:57] Before we, before you gavel out, can I ask for unanimous consent to enter to a record [2:10:01] article entitled, Inside Trump's DOJ, dated October 16th, 2020. [2:10:06] Without objection, we stand in recess. [2:10:49] And the gentleman from Colorado is recognized for five minutes. [2:10:53] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:10:55] Here. [2:10:57] Attorney General Bondi, six days ago, you posted online. [2:11:01] Quote, if you come for law enforcement, the Trump administration will come for you. [2:11:07] End quote. [2:11:08] I want to show you just a brief video. [2:11:10] It's about 30 seconds. [2:11:11] And I'll ask you a couple of questions about it. [2:11:19] Disgusting. [2:11:21] You can't stop them. [2:11:22] You can't see it. [2:11:23] Because you're chasing your pension. [2:11:24] Right? [2:11:25] Pension. [2:11:26] Your retirement. [2:11:27] Right? [2:11:28] That's what runs your life. [2:11:29] Your retirement. [2:11:30] The sad thing is they're not even going to get their pension because it's going to be [2:11:31] your loss. [2:11:32] Shame on you. [2:11:33] Shame on you. [2:11:34] Attorney General Bondi, that man works for you now. [2:11:53] Right? [2:11:56] Who was that? [2:11:57] The congressman? [2:11:58] The man in that video, the one who was in the police-worn body cam footage, the one [2:12:04] allegedly yelling, kill him, at police officers on January 6th, his name is Jared Wise. [2:12:10] He does work for us. [2:12:11] He works for you at the Department of Justice. [2:12:13] Yes, he does. [2:12:14] He does. [2:12:15] This is an individual whom a federal grand jury indicted for two felonies and four misdemeanors [2:12:21] related to his participation in the attack on January 6th. [2:12:25] One of those charges was forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating [2:12:29] and interfering with police with the intent to commit another felony. [2:12:34] This is who you choose as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the United States of America to [2:12:40] hire at the Department of Justice. [2:12:42] Someone on video yelling, kill him, at police officers. [2:12:49] Right? [2:12:50] I believe he was pardoned by President Trump. [2:12:52] Oh, he was pardoned. [2:12:53] You're right. [2:12:54] You're right. [2:12:56] Pardoned by President Trump for his offense, pardoned for yelling, kill him, at police [2:13:02] officers. [2:13:03] And yet you expect hardworking police officers across the country to believe that you take [2:13:09] law enforcement seriously. [2:13:11] You could imagine the reaction of so many folks across the country hearing the Chief [2:13:19] Law Enforcement Officer of the United States refuse to even condemn what that individual [2:13:25] whom you've now hired did. [2:13:29] But in any event, let's talk a little bit about some of the other divisions within the [2:13:33] Department of Justice and what's happened over the last year. [2:13:36] You're familiar with the Public Integrity Section. [2:13:37] The Public Integrity Section of the DOJ's Criminal Division, I think it's referred [2:13:40] to as PIN. [2:13:41] Is that right? [2:13:42] Yes. [2:13:43] Okay. [2:13:44] Do you know which presidential administration under which the PIN was first created? [2:13:48] I can tell you what administration that the weaponization was ended under. [2:13:52] I'll reclaim my time. [2:13:53] This wasn't a trick question, Madam Attorney General. [2:13:54] You don't get to reclaim your time. [2:13:55] It was— [2:13:56] Madam Attorney General— [2:13:57] Because I don't like— [2:13:58] I don't answer a question the way you like it. [2:13:59] Mr. Chairman, will you explain to the witness that he does reclaim his time? [2:14:00] Because I don't answer a question to your satisfaction? [2:14:03] Mr. Chairman, Madam Attorney General, the time belongs to the gentleman from Colorado. [2:14:09] The intent under which PIN was created was Gerald Ford. [2:14:12] It was created after Water— [2:14:13] I'm not asking a question, Madam Attorney General. [2:14:15] The administration under which it was created was Gerald Ford. [2:14:18] When you first started as the Attorney General of the United States, there were 35 people [2:14:21] working in that office. [2:14:23] There are now two people working in that office because you have gutted it. [2:14:26] How many people work for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team in the Criminal Division [2:14:30] today? [2:14:35] Can I answer the question about PIN? [2:14:36] I've asked you a question. [2:14:37] How many people work— [2:14:38] You've asked me a question, but you don't want the answer. [2:14:39] How many people work for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team? [2:14:40] I'm not going to answer your question. [2:14:41] Say what you want. [2:14:42] How many people work for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team? [2:14:43] You won't answer how many people— [2:14:44] I'll answer PIN. [2:14:46] You— [2:14:47] PIN will not be weaponized. [2:14:48] You know what? [2:14:49] Actually, you know what, Madam Attorney General? [2:14:50] What's funny about this? [2:14:51] I'll say to the chairman. [2:14:52] What's funny about this? [2:14:53] Madam Attorney General, you know what? [2:14:54] The answer is— [2:14:55] What's funny about this? [2:14:56] And I think—I understand why the Attorney General does not want to answer [2:14:57] the question. [2:14:58] Because you eliminated the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team last year. [2:15:01] So I understand why you don't want to tell the American people who works there. [2:15:03] No one works there anymore, Madam Attorney General. [2:15:04] Yeah, I understand why you don't want to talk about Mohamed Salman in your district— [2:15:07] In any event— [2:15:08] —who murdered people. [2:15:09] Can you stop the clock so his time is not wasted by the witness? [2:15:12] I have been very generous with allowing extra time when we have these little disputes. [2:15:16] I understand. [2:15:17] You've got the time. [2:15:18] I might as well ask the chairman these questions. [2:15:21] I'd be happy to answer some of your questions. [2:15:23] What's profound— [2:15:24] What's profound? [2:15:25] The questions I've asked— [2:15:26] Profound? [2:15:27] The crime in your district— [2:15:28] The questions I've asked, Mr. Chairman, are not trick questions. [2:15:31] They're not gotcha questions. [2:15:32] They're actually basic questions about how the Department of Justice functions and the [2:15:37] unwillingness of this Attorney General to answer them. [2:15:41] In good faith, when a member of Congress asks how many people work at the National Cryptocurrency [2:15:46] Enforcement Team and the Attorney General refuses to answer it, it is not a coincidence. [2:15:53] It's because she eliminated the team. [2:15:55] Why? [2:15:56] Because her boss, the President of the United States, is making money hand over fist—$1.4 [2:16:02] billion over the course of the last year—through cryptocurrency holdings. [2:16:07] I think what is happening at the Department of Justice is a disgrace, Mr. Chairman. [2:16:11] And I would urge you to gain control of this hearing. [2:16:17] With that, I yield back the balance of my time. [2:16:19] Yeah. [2:16:20] I would ask the gentleman, does he agree with the standing up of the Deputy Attorney General [2:16:25] for dealing with fraud? [2:16:27] That's something that's happened in this administration for the first time. [2:16:30] You talked about PIN. [2:16:32] That happened with this Justice Department. [2:16:33] We're talking about this committee. [2:16:34] Mr. Chairman, had you answered the question—had the Attorney General answered the question [2:16:39] in that way, perhaps this hearing would have some modicum of resembling? [2:16:43] Of resembling something that has typically been fairly conventional, an oversight hearing [2:16:47] of the Department of Justice. [2:16:48] That is not this. [2:16:49] Thank you, please. [2:16:50] The gentleman's time has expired. [2:16:51] The gentlelady from Wyoming is recognized for five minutes. [2:16:55] Attorney General Bondi, I want to express my gratitude to the President, you, and your [2:16:59] team for your continued efforts against extreme anti-energy policies taken by states and cities [2:17:06] that serve only to increase costs on the American people. [2:17:10] This is an issue of great concern for Congress. [2:17:11] This is an issue of great concern for Congress. [2:17:12] This is an issue that we must address as the consumers. [2:17:14] At the behest of networks of non-governmental organizations and anti-growth activists, democratic-controlled [2:17:20] states and cities are enacting laws and pursuing coordinated lawsuits that would impose retroactive [2:17:26] liability on energy producers for past global emissions based on speculative future climate [2:17:32] change harms. [2:17:33] The proponents of these plans call them climate super fund laws, but in reality, that is simply [2:17:39] window dressing for taxes [2:17:40] and fees imposed on consumers, [2:17:42] and they're not doing it because they want to. [2:17:42] They're not doing it because they want to. [2:17:42] and businesses that don't even have a presence in these states or communities. [2:17:47] But if you look at the billions of dollars they hope to gain from these efforts, the [2:17:50] real goal here is to increase their already mismanaged state budgets by imposing fees [2:17:55] on consumers and businesses in energy-producing states such as the state of Wyoming. [2:18:00] I would describe this as the tobacco litigation on steroids. [2:18:04] Vermont has enacted such a law, and another has recently gone into effect in New York. [2:18:09] Similar laws are under consideration in a number of other states. [2:18:13] Clearly, this problem is spreading. [2:18:16] Would you agree that Congress has not authorized states to impose retroactive liability against [2:18:22] energy producers and lawful carbon emissions? [2:18:27] Would you also agree that protecting consumers is a core part of the DOJ's mission? [2:18:33] Would you further agree that combating state policies that seek to hide and shift the true [2:18:37] cost of programs like these would be a problem? [2:18:39] Would you also agree that the DOJ's role in protecting consumers fits within your mission? [2:18:45] Attorney General Bondi, fossil fuels are the foundation of the U.S. economy, and the recent [2:18:50] winter storms underscored that gas, coal, and oil remain essential to grid reliability [2:18:56] and heating our homes. [2:18:57] Can you confirm that the DOJ is fully committed to using all available legal tools to stop [2:19:02] these state and local-level attacks on domestic energy production? [2:19:07] We are committed to that, and so is the entire administration. [2:19:10] We talk about that a lot. [2:19:13] The President's April 2025 executive order directed the DOJ to identify and act against [2:19:18] state laws that burden U.S. energy production. [2:19:22] What concrete actions has the DOJ and the administration more broadly taken to carry [2:19:27] out this directive? [2:19:29] We filed four lawsuits. [2:19:31] We are filing multiple lawsuits. [2:19:33] Many things are pending within this office to carry that out. [2:19:37] States continue to invent new causes of action to pursue state climate change. [2:19:38] The DOJ has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Energy to [2:19:39] defend the state's climate lawfare, as is evidenced by Michigan's recent novel claim [2:19:44] related to antitrust violations. [2:19:46] The City of Boulder, Colorado has also filed such a lawsuit, despite refusing my challenge [2:19:52] that they actually forego the use of fossil fuels if I disagree with them so much. [2:19:57] Does the Department of Justice agree that these novel approaches require a federal response, [2:20:02] and will the Department pursue such an approach? [2:20:06] Yes, Congresswoman, and we would be happy to talk to you more about that. [2:20:09] Wonderful. [2:20:10] thank you multiple climate lawsuits multiple climate lawsuits are now advancing toward [2:20:17] tribal trial even in states that rely on those energy forms to provide heat and electricity for [2:20:22] their citizens in fact in any community that they all rely upon fossil fuels in some fashion is the [2:20:30] department actively considering intervention to protect federal supremacy over interstate [2:20:35] emissions and energy policy yes would be happy to discuss that with you thank you and clearly [2:20:41] this is an area in which congress has a role to play to that end i'm working with my colleagues [2:20:46] in both the house and senate to craft legislation tackling both these state laws [2:20:50] and the lawsuits that could destroy energy affordability for consumers to that end are [2:20:55] there any authorities or tools that doj and the administration don't currently have at their [2:21:00] disposal that would be helpful in that effort that congress could adopt well we work with multiple [2:21:06] agencies throughout the administration but i'd be happy to talk to you about that more [2:21:11] one of the things that i think is really important is that we have a lot of resources that are [2:21:11] not available for investment in the future and we simply need to report on and address these [2:21:16] issues before they are made available in a dialogue with congress and with emergency [2:21:19] response and i'll have that conversation with the commission as my colleague in thailand [2:21:26] will do that so that's great thank you i love that so wonderful thank you i appreciate your [2:21:30] effort in this regard and may i have 20 seconds of your time before to address something yes thank [2:21:38] you your colleague um senator nagus nagus um didn't want to talk about crypto because he [2:21:43] women by illegal aliens. Yet, on June 1, 2025, Mohammed Salomon attacked members of the [2:21:52] group Run for Their Lives in Boulder, Colorado, where an 82-year-old woman sustained burns [2:21:58] on over half of her body and eventually died from her injuries. [2:22:02] I believe that she was a Holocaust survivor. [2:22:04] She was. [2:22:06] Thank you. [2:22:07] The time the gentlelady has expired, the gentlelady yields back, and the gentlelady from Georgia [2:22:12] is recognized. [2:22:13] Thank you, Mr. Chair. [2:22:15] Ms. Bondy, as the Florida Attorney General, attorneys from your office handled the appeal [2:22:21] of my son, Jordan Davis' murderer, which was denied. [2:22:26] As a result of the efforts of those attorneys under your watch, the court actually upheld [2:22:31] the life sentence for a man who used prejudice as his defense for murdering my son and scarring [2:22:37] his friends for life. [2:22:40] Attorneys from your office, under your management, worked hard to remove [2:22:44] that. [2:22:44] The court also removed the charges of a dangerous man from the community who terrorized innocent [2:22:48] people like my son and his friends. [2:22:52] The compassion and respect that my family received throughout that ordeal were critical [2:22:58] in helping us keep faith in the rule of law and justice. [2:23:03] Based on my experiences, I have seen how strong victim services, sustained investigations, [2:23:11] and well-supported prosecutors can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families [2:23:16] who are grieving and suffering. [2:23:19] Ms. Bondy, just yes or no, would you agree that government officials should be respectful [2:23:25] and supportive of victims' families as they mourn? [2:23:32] First, Congresswoman, thank you for talking about that, and I am so very sorry for what [2:23:37] happened to your family. [2:23:40] And yes, I agree with that with all victims, including the ones sitting behind us today. [2:23:44] I absolutely do. [2:23:46] And also, thank you for voting yes on the Lake and Riley Act. [2:23:49] Thank you for that. [2:23:50] Thank you. [2:23:51] Okay. [2:23:52] So your answer is why the recent treatment of families in Minnesota raises really serious [2:23:56] concerns for me, because shortly after Mr. Alex Preddy was murdered, administration officials [2:24:01] referred to him as an assassin and called Mr. Preddy the definition of domestic terrorism. [2:24:08] They also lied about Mr. Preddy holding a gun and threatening officers. [2:24:13] After Ms. Renee Goode was murdered by ICE officials in Minneapolis, administration officials [2:24:17] also accused her of being a domestic terrorist. [2:24:20] They also accused her of being a domestic terrorist and investigated her wife in a [2:24:23] clear act of retaliation. [2:24:25] The statement Mr. Preddy's mother made after the murder resonated with me more than you'll [2:24:30] ever imagine. [2:24:32] She said that, and I'm quoting, the sickening lies told about our son by the administration [2:24:38] are reprehensible and disgusting, end quote. [2:24:42] And I assure you, I know how it feels to hear lies that are told to justify the taking of [2:24:50] someone's son. [2:24:51] They were used by my son's murderer as a defense, and those lies still affect me today. [2:24:58] He was called a thug, and he was called a gangbanger, and the attorneys from your office [2:25:05] actually defended my son's name, his memory, and defended his honor. [2:25:10] I'm certain that Mr. Preddy's mother watched videos of her son, Alex, an ICU nurse at the [2:25:17] VA hospital, using his phone to record federal agents. [2:25:20] She also watched him getting pepper sprayed for his son. [2:25:21] sprayed kicked hit in the head and surrounded by at least seven agents [2:25:26] before having his gun removed from his waistband which he legally carried and [2:25:31] she watched second leaders seconds later as two of those agents shot her son Alex [2:25:37] at least ten times the administration was quick to spew an incorrect narrative [2:25:42] and call him so many things that they wanted us to ignore the truth that we [2:25:48] actually saw with our own eyes miss Bondi will you denounce the statements [2:25:53] that were made to tarnish the names of Alex pretty and Rene good and will you [2:25:59] protect their names like those attorneys back in Florida under your watch [2:26:04] protected my son's name what I will say is we are looking at everything to shed [2:26:12] light on what happened that day and it is an ongoing and active investigation [2:26:17] both of those cases and I assure you they will be investigated [2:26:21] and [2:26:22] I will say is we are looking at everything to shed light on what happened that day and it is an ongoing and active investigation both of those cases and I assure you they will be investigated and [2:26:22] we understand that but will you do everything in your power as you have [2:26:27] done for my case as you are asked to do as you've sworn an oath to do it is [2:26:34] your responsibility to make sure that you are following the rule of law those [2:26:38] families in Minnesota they deserve the same respect they deserve a full [2:26:43] investigation which you have not even begin to do yet so what are you saying [2:26:48] is that they don't deserve any respect for a full investigation into their murder [2:26:52] well that is not a tense on your behalf without American people do deserve [2:26:59] better non-commitment to defending the rule of law is what we see from you I [2:27:03] will always stand up for survivors and I heard you say earlier when you told us [2:27:08] that you will fight for them as well and based on the information before us these [2:27:12] families have not received the same commitment to investigate what happened [2:27:15] to their loved ones nor have they received the respect that I I would [2:27:19] expect from the nation's top law enforcement officer in [2:27:22] longhand would proven dieseliner you can say that out if I were you know [2:27:27] what's appropriate for this facility steven [2:27:32] never grateful during these earlier years [2:27:35] and there's nothing I'm thankful for because if that was the case you wouldn't [2:27:39] be connected to it anyway you wouldn't know how appropriate that was as well [2:27:43] continue to bless your family and ok I will be very wholeheartedly aider your [2:27:47] own faith and pills spinning I'll be yourivel any Nevada we would neverRemember [2:27:52] the [2:27:53] fundamental responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of [2:27:58] its citizens. Now you cited some crime figures in your opening statement and I [2:28:02] wonder if you could repeat them because I think it's one of the most [2:28:04] extraordinary achievements of the Department of Justice in our history and [2:28:09] I don't think some of my colleagues heard you clearly. Thank you Congressman [2:28:13] and would you mind if I address something that Congresswoman [2:28:18] McBath wouldn't let me address first? Go right ahead. The reason that she wants [2:28:22] to continue to talk about Minnesota, which we will all day long, is she [2:28:26] doesn't want to talk about her own jurisdiction in Atlanta because she [2:28:31] doesn't want to talk about Christopher Welcher who traveled across state lines [2:28:35] to try to meet, and nothing's funny about this, to meet and molest a 14 year old [2:28:40] girl in Georgia. That's why they're watching the clock, the American people [2:28:43] should know, for the second it runs out because they don't want to address [2:28:47] anything in their jurisdiction. They're elected to represent people in their [2:28:52] jurisdiction. They're elected to represent people in their jurisdiction. [2:28:52] We prosecuted illegal aliens who ran a large-scale meth operation in the [2:28:59] Atlanta metro area. You understand we don't prosecute, right Ms. Bondi? [2:29:03] Madam Attorney General. I'm the law officer, Mr. McClintock. So yes, the [2:29:08] statistics I spoke of earlier, Congressman, under the leadership of the [2:29:13] FBI, historic work has been done. A drop 20% in the nationwide murder [2:29:21] rate in 2020. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of money. [2:29:22] That's a lot of work. [2:29:23] Does that work? [2:29:25] In 2020 there's been a drop in the price of criminal crime. [2:29:26] The price of criminal crime? [2:29:27] In 2020 there's been a drop in the price of criminal crime. [2:29:28] In 2020 there's been a drop in the price of criminal crime. [2:29:30] In 2020 there's been a drop in the price of criminal crime. [2:29:32] Yes, Congressman. [2:29:33] We have the largest number of statistics and statistics in the United States, [2:29:34] that have shown that crimes that were committed on a national level have [2:29:38] suddenly increased. [2:29:39] But these statistics are still going to change. [2:29:41] McClintock, Mr. Congressman, you are a criminal story. [2:29:44] So, how long will you stay behind in this situation, and how does that affect [2:29:47] the vandalism? [2:29:48] Well, I would be a criminal story. [2:29:49] I would be a criminal. [2:29:50] So, what do you mean? [2:29:51] That's an interesting point. [2:29:52] tell us, and you're under oath, that if we take violent criminals off the streets, we [2:29:57] end up with less crime? [2:30:00] I certainly hope so, Congressman, and that's our goal, and that's President Trump's goal. [2:30:04] That's an extraordinary concept, and I'm afraid it may be lost on some of our Democratic colleagues. [2:30:10] I look at these numbers, and they're absolutely staggering. [2:30:13] It didn't happen by accident. [2:30:14] It happened because of specific policies that you've implemented this year, and you mentioned [2:30:19] a few of them. [2:30:20] Would you continue? [2:30:22] Over 6,000 child victims located, 22 percent increase. [2:30:28] Over 1,700 child predators arrested, 10 percent increase. [2:30:33] Over 300 human traffickers arrested. [2:30:36] Let me jump down to DEA right now. [2:30:38] That was just FBI. [2:30:40] Under Terry Cole's leadership, and I talk to these people almost daily, our directors, [2:30:47] and the amazing work that they're doing in all of your jurisdictions on the left and [2:30:51] the right. [2:30:52] They're working together to take drugs off our streets. [2:30:56] And I assume that our Democratic colleagues, some of whom represent some of our most crime-plagued [2:31:01] cities and communities, have thanked you for this extraordinary accomplishment. [2:31:06] Thank you, Congressman. [2:31:07] We've seized more than 9,800 kilos of fentanyl and 47 million fentanyl pills. [2:31:14] That affects every single person in this room. [2:31:18] It doesn't matter what political party you are. [2:31:22] Everyone in this room knows someone. [2:31:23] Who's died from fentanyl. [2:31:24] A parent, a child, a sister, a brother, a friend, a neighbor, a relative. [2:31:25] Everyone here knows someone who has been impacted by that. [2:31:26] That is the common ground that I wish we could find, to work together in this country, to [2:31:27] take these drugs off the streets. [2:31:28] And someone nodded with vapes. [2:31:29] Well, in your opening statement, you said that this historic success in protecting the [2:31:30] lives and property of Americans has occurred when local governments have cooperated with [2:31:31] the U.S. and the United States. [2:31:32] What do you say to that? [2:31:33] Well, I think it's a great question. [2:31:34] I think it's a great question. [2:31:35] I think it's a great question. [2:31:36] I think it's a great question. [2:31:37] I think it's a great question. [2:31:38] I think it's a great question. [2:31:39] I think it's a great question. [2:31:40] I think it's a great question, because I think for the U.S. is a great question. [2:31:42] And I think that's the answer to that question. [2:31:43] Let me ask you, what are the greatest impediments you are facing in bringing down crime across [2:31:56] the country? [2:31:57] Well, when local governments, of course, do not cooperate with us. [2:32:04] And that's where criminals flee, in jurisdictions where they know they will be protected by [2:32:10] local government. [2:32:10] governments. And this is all about working together. And we have shown that in what we did in D.C., what we're doing in Memphis, working together with Democrat mayors in these cities right here in D.C. [2:32:24] And very quickly, if you could tell us about the Safe Cities program and give us your read on what cities that avail themselves of this program can expect. [2:32:31] Yes. So far, of course, we've been working in Washington, D.C., right here to do everything we can, working hand in hand with the mayor, with Metro PD to keep everyone safe in D.C. [2:32:45] And it's been a tremendous effort. And now we're in Memphis working with the mayor in Memphis, as we talked about earlier, doing everything we can. [2:32:53] These are iconic cities in our country, and we want to help every city in this country who wants and asks for President Trump's help. [2:33:02] To make America safe again. [2:33:04] Mr. Chair, I have a few unanimous consent requests. I would like to submit into the record this New York Times article titled, Alex Prady's Friends and Family Denounce Sickening Lies About His Life. [2:33:28] I also would like to submit this Daily Mail exclusive interview with Vice President J.D. Vance titled, [2:33:34] J.D. Vance Refuses to Apologize to Alex Prady's Family After Spreading ICE Assassin Claim. [2:33:40] One more. My last submission request is a New York Times article titled, FBI Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns. [2:33:49] Without objection. [2:33:50] Thank you. [2:33:50] The chair now recognizes the gentlelady from North Carolina. [2:33:53] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:33:54] Attorney General Bondi, I think you and pretty much everybody else here and throughout the country believes that convicted sex offenders [2:34:03] don't deserve to be in the public eye. [2:34:04] They deserve to be in the public eye. [2:34:06] They deserve to have special treatment or privileges in prison. [2:34:09] And yet, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator, received perk after perk in prison. [2:34:15] In July, she had a two-day interview with your deputy and President Trump's former defense attorney, Todd Blanch. [2:34:23] Just days after that, Maxwell was transferred from a federal correctional institution in Florida to a minimum security camp in Texas. [2:34:33] Which she, as a former defense attorney, was not aware of. [2:34:35] She, as a sex offender, would normally be ineligible for. [2:34:39] At this new facility, as the ranking member talked about, and by the way, it's nicknamed Club Fed. [2:34:47] We've heard reports that she's been afforded special privileges, puppy time, private workouts, personal mail, secretarial services. [2:34:56] Attorney General Bondi, does a convicted sex offender like Ghislaine Maxwell deserve special treatment and privileges in prison? [2:35:05] Yes or no? [2:35:06] Let me be crystal clear on this. No. [2:35:08] Thank you. Perfect. [2:35:10] Let me keep going. [2:35:12] I did not know she was being transferred and she was not transferred to a lower level. [2:35:18] Mr. Chairman, please stop the clock and remind the witness of the rules. [2:35:20] One rule she needs to understand here. [2:35:22] And I'm glad that we're agreeing, so when we're agreeing, we can move on to some other things. [2:35:26] But I want you to know that every time she does get these perks, [2:35:30] and it's been publicly reported that her, [2:35:34] the folks she's abused, [2:35:36] the survivors who are sitting here they see themselves as being denied justice [2:35:42] they feel retraumatized and I'm glad that we agree on that but she should not [2:35:49] be in that prison and she needs to be moved back to a maximum security prison [2:35:56] as as soon as possible but what she has told another committee here is that she [2:36:02] won't cooperate with them unless she gets clemency from Donald Trump it's [2:36:08] just crazy to consider that she can be wielding this kind of influence within [2:36:15] the administration but that begs the question who ordered her to be [2:36:22] transferred to the minimum security prison that she was ineligible for who [2:36:27] signed off on the special privileges was it mr. Blanche was it one of your other [2:36:33] subordinates so please can you tell us who sent her there since you don't agree [2:36:38] she should be there [2:36:39] I sent her there [2:36:41] I said I do not agree she should receive special treatment she was transferred I [2:36:47] learned after the fact to the same level facility and that is a question for the [2:36:52] Bureau of Prisons I was not involved in that at all the same level facility I [2:36:57] don't know why but you know instead of talking about Gerlaine Maxwell who [2:37:01] hopefully will die in prison hopefully will die in prison I have talking about [2:37:05] Irina zarutska I have a couple of died on a subway right and I you don't talk about that [2:37:11] I've been talking about it and actually helping with these issues but we're [2:37:15] going to move back to you I bet we are yes of course because you're here to [2:37:19] testify that's what the whole point of this endeavor is so of course we're [2:37:25] moving back to you it is all about you so as we've heard she she took the fifth [2:37:32] in response to every single question in that committee hearing and her lawyer [2:37:39] dangled the offer of clemency should Donald Trump [2:37:44] pardon or commute her sentence should she be released from prison yes or no you [2:37:51] said you hope she dies there so I'm hoping the answer is no I already answered that [2:37:55] question good I'm very glad I really like this bipartisan agreement but you don't want to talk [2:38:04] about Irina zarutska you don't want to talk about I talk about her but I am not here to [2:38:11] testify before Congress you are that is your job today that's what you're getting [2:38:16] asked with attack I want you to know that your your your own um DOJ employee he's recently been [2:38:24] demoted and had some other problems advises on pardons do you think he will be advising Mr Trump [2:38:31] on any kind of clemency or pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell I'm not going to speculate and you [2:38:41] couldn't even identify properly that's why you don't want to talk about Irina zarutska you [2:38:48] couldn't I I [2:38:49] absolutely have been and her family by the way appreciates all of the condolences all of the [2:39:01] help everything that our law enforcement in North Carolina has been doing to help her family her [2:39:08] family feels well treated thank you and I yield back the lady yields back gentlemen for California's [2:39:13] recognized I'd ask unanimous consent to enter into the record an article by former Attorney [2:39:17] General William P Barr entitled [2:39:19] why Pam Bondi didn't publish all the Epstein files in 30 days the answer is simple it was [2:39:25] not possible from the Wall Street Journal well said without objection the gentle lady from [2:39:30] Florida is recognized thank you Mr Chairman I'm sorry may I respond 20 seconds to something that [2:39:38] Congresswoman Ross said go right ahead thank you she also opposed a sex offender registry as head [2:39:45] of North Carolina ACLU thank you thank you Madam Attorney General and [2:39:50] I'd like to pick up where you left off a moment ago because we convene here today as a committee for [2:39:56] the stated purpose of conducting oversight of the Department of Justice and so it's critical for us [2:40:02] to focus first on the mission of the department and assess your success in discharging it so the [2:40:09] mission of the department is to enforce federal law defend the rule of law and protect the American [2:40:14] people from violent crime terrorism drug trafficking fraud and exploitation to [2:40:20] promote Public Safety and what we have heard today unequivocally is that President Trump's [2:40:27] Department of Justice under your leadership Attorney General Bondi is doing exactly that [2:40:33] just a moment ago you shared with us some incredible statistics that the United States [2:40:40] under your leadership has achieved the lowest murder rate in 125 years that in the first year [2:40:48] of this administration murder is down [2:40:51] one percent robbery is down 23 percent carjacking down 43 percent and gun assault down 22 percent [2:40:58] that is what Public Safety looks like under your leadership and that of President Trump you've [2:41:06] located more than 6 000 child victims of trafficking and exploitation arrested 1,700 [2:41:11] child predators and apprehended more than 300 human traffickers significant increases and [2:41:18] those aren't just statistics those are precious lives that your [2:41:22] government and the men and women of federal law enforcement have saved Madam Attorney General [2:41:28] you've mentioned a couple of specific criminal Trends during this hearing that I'd like to discuss [2:41:33] with you further because one of our important roles in Congress is making sure that our laws [2:41:38] and our law enforcement stay ahead of predators as technology evolves I lead legislation in the [2:41:45] house along with bipartisan co-sponsors on this committee to make sex extortion a clearly defined [2:41:52] criminal offense we actually passed that [2:41:54] by the House of Representatives we have a bill to promote Operation Renewed Hope to help rescue more [2:42:00] child victims and the Defiance Act to provide legal recourse to victims of deep fake AI intimate [2:42:05] images I would love to hear your perspective and what you are seeing related to these technology [2:42:13] based criminal Trends sextortion and AI deep fakes what are you seeing at the Department of Justice [2:42:20] and why do you believe that efforts to combat these types of crimes [2:42:25] are important sextortion and thank you for supporting that Congresswoman I think that [2:42:33] was a bipartisan effort actually I think I think many of you on both sides of the aisle supported [2:42:38] that thank you for that you know um as a career prosecutor it's horrible seeing that and seeing [2:42:46] that that young women and often young boys have been exploited with sextortion and I see thank [2:42:53] you both sides of the aisle nodding on that it's it's it's horrific the suicide rates go up [2:43:00] and that's why we have to do everything in our power to protect not only young girls adult women [2:43:07] boys and men from sextortion because it is happening and we're doing everything in our [2:43:13] power thanks to your legislation all of you to stop that I'd like to hear a little bit more [2:43:20] about some of the Department of Justice programs like Project safe childhood and the internet crimes [2:43:25] against children task forces partnerships that bring together federal state and local law enforcement [2:43:32] work between those those those law enforcement groups together really creates some incredibly [2:43:37] powerful income outcomes and some great success stories I know you as Florida's attorney general [2:43:43] had a tremendous amount of leadership in our state trying to make sure we were taking care [2:43:49] of children also the elderly protecting them from fraud ending drug trafficking tell us a little bit [2:43:55] about some of those departments within DOJ yeah when you talked about on Project safe neighborhoods [2:44:01] we we've done a lot of that [2:44:02] in Florida when I was state AG and actually back when I was a state prosecutor prior to being [2:44:07] attorney general that is so important I feel like what we've been doing in DC too with the [2:44:14] take back DC and make DC safe again is similar to that going into the neighborhoods working with the [2:44:20] community seeing law enforcement officers out there playing basketball with kids who live in [2:44:26] the neighborhood it's pretty remarkable what we've seen firsthand citizens in Memphis saying [2:44:33] that they appreciate they can walk outdoors now and they feel safe people coming up thanking law [2:44:39] enforcement and working hand in hand with them we will continue um all of all of these programs and [2:44:45] I'm working jointly with both sides of the aisle to to keep our families safe thank you for that [2:44:51] Madam Attorney General Mr Chairman I yield back lady gentle lady yields back uh gentlemen from [2:44:57] Tennessee is recognized thank you I'd like to introduce for the record uh a letter a letter to [2:45:04] uh from uh Mr Warner and uh and Mr Himes and a letter of response from her to them about who invited [2:45:14] her to Atlanta and a copy of the search warrant uh and I'd also like to just make it clear for [2:45:19] the record the reason people in Memphis weren't going out was because the ice was on the was on [2:45:24] the ground and we were afraid we'd fall but other than that we go out all the time uh gentlemen uh [2:45:30] without objection there's the enormous