Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., offered sharp criticism Sunday of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, saying even former Attorney General Merrick Garland “performed better” when facing lawmakers over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Speaking on ABC News’s This Week, Massie said he was disappointed with Bondi’s performance during last week’s hearing, which marked her first appearance before the committee since taking office as the nation’s top law enforcement official.
“I don’t think she did very well. She came with a book full of insults, one for each congressperson. She obviously had one for me,” Massie said.
The Kentucky Republican, who frequently clashes with leadership in both parties, drew an unexpected comparison to Garland, who served as attorney general under President Biden. “I’ve been there when Merrick Garland was there. Obviously, politically, I don’t agree with him, but he performed much better in terms of at least not looking bad,” Massie said. “And, unfortunately, we didn’t get the answers we wanted about the Epstein files.”
Bondi’s hearing was marked by heated exchanges with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. She faced questions on a range of topics, including pending investigations into President Trump’s adversaries and immigration policy. However, the most intense moments centered on the long-running controversy surrounding Epstein and the handling of related documents across multiple administrations.
Throughout the hearing, Bondi pushed back forcefully against lawmakers, at one point questioning why members of Congress had not pressed for answers about the Epstein investigation under previous administrations, including Garland’s tenure.
“I’m glad you’re asking about Merrick Garland,” Massie said during the Wednesday hearing.
“This is bigger than Watergate. This goes over four administrations. You don’t have to go back to Biden. Let’s go back to Obama. Let’s go back to George [W.] Bush. This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it,” Massie added at the time, underscoring his view that the issue extends well beyond any single administration.
Appearing again Sunday, Massie said he was troubled not only by what he characterized as a lack of substantive answers but also by Bondi’s demeanor. He criticized her for not looking at Epstein survivors who were seated behind her during the hearing, calling the move “cold on her part” and suggesting she was “afraid to do so.”
Massie also questioned Bondi’s leadership at the Justice Department, saying he left the hearing without confidence in her performance.
“I don’t think Pam Bondi has confidence in Pam Bondi,” he told co-host Martha Raddatz. “She wasn’t confident enough to engage in anything but name-calling in a hearing.”
He further argued that Bondi failed to provide accountability on specific questions related to document production. Massie said that when he asked who redacted the name of Leslie Wexner from a key document, Bondi did not provide a clear answer.
“She couldn’t give me an answer, she wouldn’t give me an answer,” Massie said. “But ultimately, it’s her who is responsible for the document production according to our law, the attorney general.”
The exchange highlights ongoing bipartisan frustration over the Epstein files, as lawmakers continue pressing for transparency from the Justice Department about decisions made across multiple administrations.
