Congressional Hearing Explodes Over Alleged DOJ Surveillance of Lawmakers' Epstein Document Searches
A routine congressional hearing transformed into a dramatic confrontation on Wednesday when Representative Pramila Jayapal, a prominent House Democrat from Washington, publicly accused former Attorney General Pam Bondi of "spying" on her online searches related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The explosive allegation came after Bondi was observed holding a document labeled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" during the contentious proceedings.
Documentary Evidence Sparks Outrage
According to photographs captured by journalists covering the session and reported by CBS News, the document in Bondi's possession contained at least eight files from the Justice Department's collection of Epstein records. These printouts displayed specific file numbers alongside brief descriptions of their contents, providing what appeared to be tangible evidence of monitoring activities.
"This represents a serious breach of trust and an invasion of congressional oversight duties," Jayapal declared during the hearing. The lawmaker demanded that Bondi apologize to Epstein survivors for failing to protect their personal information and asked those survivors present to raise their hands if they had not yet met with Justice Department officials.
Broader Concerns About Epstein File Access System
Jayapal is not alone in her concerns about the Justice Department's system for accessing the sensitive Epstein files. Representative Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia described earlier on Wednesday how lawmakers were restricted to just four computers in a cramped room, each requiring unique login credentials.
The access limitations included:
- Complete prohibition of mobile phones
- Restriction to handwritten notes in separate notepads
- No electronic recording or photography allowed
Subramanyam told streaming host Aaron Parnas that the entire setup seemed deliberately designed to "make it as difficult as possible for lawmakers to piece information together" regarding one of the most significant criminal investigations in recent memory.
Raskin's Scathing Condemnation of DOJ Practices
Representative Jamie Raskin released a formal statement condemning what he characterized as systematic misconduct by the Department of Justice under the Trump administration. Raskin accused the DOJ and Attorney General Bondi of multiple violations, including:
- Illegally withholding documents from Congress and the public
- Failing to pursue indictments against Epstein's co-conspirators
- Allegedly monitoring members of Congress during their oversight duties
"It is an outrage that DOJ is tracking Members' investigative steps undertaken to ensure that DOJ is complying with the Epstein File Transparency Act and using this information for the Attorney General's embarrassing polemical purposes," Raskin stated emphatically.
The Maryland Democrat called for immediate cessation of all monitoring activities, expanded access for senior congressional staff, and full public release of Epstein files with proper redactions to protect survivors' information as required by federal law.
Bondi's Defiant Response and Counteraccusations
In a sharp rebuttal, Bondi dismissed Jayapal's allegations as political theater and redirected criticism toward current Attorney General Merrick Garland's handling of the Epstein case. "I'm not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics," Bondi declared during the heated exchange.
The former Florida attorney general defended her actions as appropriate oversight while simultaneously criticizing the Biden administration's approach to the sensitive investigation that has captivated national attention for years.
Call for Formal Investigation
Raskin concluded his statement by announcing his intention to request that the DOJ Inspector General launch a formal investigation into what he termed an "outrageous abuse of power." He urged his colleagues to use the revelation about the Attorney General's conduct as an opportunity to comprehensively reassess the entire handling of the Epstein case, from document access protocols to investigative transparency.
The dramatic hearing highlights ongoing tensions between congressional oversight committees and executive branch agencies, particularly regarding sensitive investigations with significant political implications. As the controversy continues to unfold, questions remain about the extent of monitoring activities and their impact on legislative oversight functions.
