Explosive Confrontation: Rep. Lieu Accuses Attorney General Bondi of Perjury During Heated Hearing
A routine House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing descended into chaos on Wednesday as Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) openly accused U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi of lying under oath. The explosive exchange, centered on the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files and potential connections to President Donald Trump, resulted in a shouting match that forced Chairman Jim Jordan to intervene.
The confrontation began when Rep. Lieu questioned Attorney General Bondi regarding the existence of evidence linking President Trump to parties hosted by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. When asked if there were underage girls at parties attended by Trump, Bondi dismissed the line of questioning as politically motivated.
“This is so ridiculous, and they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done,” Bondi stated, visibly agitated. “There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that.”
Lieu immediately seized on the statement, displaying an FBI witness report on screens in the hearing room. The document reportedly contained a statement from a former limousine driver who alleged he overheard Trump discussing abusive behavior with Epstein in 1995.
“I believe you just lied under oath!” Lieu declared, pointing to the document as contradiction to her testimony.
Bondi shot back instantly, her voice rising above the commotion: “Don’t you EVER accuse me of a crime!”
Lieu did not back down, continuing to read from the witness statement before delivering a scathing rebuke of the Attorney General’s leadership. “You need to interview this witness immediately,” Lieu said. “Shame on you! If you had any decency, you would resign right after this hearing concludes.”
Deep Search Analysis: The Evidence in Question
The document central to Lieu’s accusation appears to be a tip log from the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center. Legal analysts note that while the existence of a tip log proves the FBI received an allegation, it does not, by itself, constitute verified proof of a crime by the subject. However, the core of Lieu’s perjury accusation rests on Bondi’s absolute statement that “no evidence” exists. In congressional testimony, making definitive absolutes about the non-existence of files or reports can be legally perilous if documents are later produced that contradict the witness’s knowledge. This clash highlights the ongoing friction regarding the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” and a July 2025 DOJ memo that critics claim was used to limit investigations into uncharged third parties.
Objections and Defense
Attorney General Bondi and her Republican allies on the committee characterized Lieu’s questioning as theatrical grandstanding designed to generate viral clips rather than conduct substantive oversight. Following the shouting match, Bondi attempted to pivot the discussion toward crime rates in Lieu’s home state of California, arguing that the Representative was ignoring safety issues in his own district to pursue debunked theories. Supporters of the Attorney General argue that “evidence of a crime” in a legal context refers to verified, actionable proof, not uncorroborated tips from decades-old witness statements, maintaining that her testimony was legally accurate.
Background Information
Pam Bondi, formerly the Attorney General of Florida, was confirmed as U.S. Attorney General last year following a contentious nomination process. She has frequently clashed with House Democrats who accuse her of using the DOJ to shield the administration from scrutiny—a charge she vehemently denies, countering that her predecessors weaponized the department against conservatives. Rep. Ted Lieu, a former military prosecutor, has a history of using precise legal language to trap witnesses during testimony. This hearing marks the first time Bondi has appeared before the committee since the controversial halt of additional Epstein-related document releases in mid-2025.
globalnews.ca
wfmd.com
mexc.com
newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com
dailysignal.com
globalnews.ca
