Here are seven key takeaways from the combative hearing.

DOJ investigating possible Epstein conspirators

Bondi disclosed that there are “pending investigations in our office” when asked whether additional individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein could face indictment.

She did not identify specific targets or offices involved, but the comment signaled that the DOJ is examining possible coconspirators beyond Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence.

Bondi’s remark may have been alluding to an order by President Donald Trump in November, when he directed her to investigate Epstein’s involvement with figures, including former President Bill Clinton, and other high-profile individuals with ties to financial institutions.

Bondi took on a combative Epstein strategy

Bondi critiqued Democrats for engaging in what she characterized as theater after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) urged her to turn around and apologize to Epstein accusers who were seated behind her. Alleged victims of Epstein have long pushed for the release of Epstein-related documents but have said the DOJ has mistakenly included victims’ information in recent releases.

Bondi declined and dismissed the demand as “theatrics,” pivoting instead to criticize prior DOJ leadership. She also said the Epstein Files Transparency Act imposed an impossible deadline on the department and pointed to examples of the DOJ reinserting redactions to protect victims while also working to unredact portions desired by the public.

Throughout the session, Bondi frequently countered Epstein-related questions by highlighting violent crimes in lawmakers’ home states, including the high-profile killings of Border Patrol agent David Chris Malin in Vermont and Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina last year. At times, she suggested Democrats were ignoring those victims while focusing narrowly on Epstein.

She also had a terse exchange with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has become persona non grata in Trumpworld due to his obsession with the transparency of Epstein files and other votes that buck the White House. After Massie accused the department of over-redacting potentially incriminating information while failing to protect victims’ identities, Bondi called him a “failed politician” and a “hypocrite.”

Lieu accused Bondi of lying under oath

One of the most explosive exchanges came with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), who challenged Bondi over a July DOJ memo stating that prosecutors had “not uncovered evidence” warranting investigations into “uncharged third parties.”

Lieu pointed to newly released images of former Prince Andrew with one of Epstein’s victims and argued they were “more than enough evidence to predicate an investigation.”

“So I ask you, Attorney General Pam Bondi, why did you shut down this investigation last July and why have you not prosecuted former Prince Andrew?” Lieu said.

Bondi responded by referencing her predecessor, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and said Democrats were attempting to deflect from Trump’s record. Lieu then pivoted, noting that Trump, like Prince Andrew, had attended parties with Epstein. Trump has said he ended his relationship with Epstein before his first brush with law enforcement decades ago, and no evidence has emerged to contradict that.

“I want to know, were there any underage girls at that party or any party with Jeffrey Epstein?” Lieu asked.

Bondi initially shook her head before responding.

“There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime, everyone knows that,” she said, raising her voice.

Lieu replied, “I believe you just lied under oath,” referencing a witness statement from a limousine driver who contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center alleging misconduct involving Trump and Epstein. He said the witness had not been interviewed by the DOJ and urged that he be questioned.

“Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime,” Bondi shot back.

As the exchange intensified, Bondi turned to documents in front of her and accused Lieu of focusing on Epstein to distract from crime in his district.

Bondi said Maxwell “hopefully will die in prison”

Bondi said Maxwell will “hopefully die in prison” when pressed about whether Trump should grant her clemency. After pleading the Fifth Amendment this week during a separate deposition, an attorney for Maxwell said earlier that she would be willing to testify before Congress.

She said she had no involvement in the decision to transfer Maxwell last year to a lower-security federal prison camp in Texas.

Trump has not ruled out a pardon or commutation, though White House officials have repeatedly pointed to his prior comments saying it is not something he has considered.

Rare bipartisan moment on threats to Eric Swalwell

Despite the broader hostility, Bondi and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a frequent Trump critic, reached a brief moment of collegiality.

Swalwell raised concerns about threats against him and his family, noting he has previously said the DOJ had not brought charges against individuals who targeted him. He described restricting his children from playing in the front yard of their home because of safety concerns. At Wednesday’s hearing, he pressed Bondi on why no charges had been filed.

Bondi responded by broadening the problem beyond party lines. “None of you should be threatened, ever,” she said, addressing lawmakers in the room. “None of your children should be threatened. None of your families should be threatened.” She added that investigations into such threats are taken seriously, drawing rare agreement from members on both sides of the aisle.

Bondi acknowledged John Brennan criminal referral

Bondi also confirmed that the DOJ has received a criminal referral from Jordan alleging that former CIA Director John Brennan lied to Congress about the Steele dossier and its role in the Obama-era Intelligence Community Assessment that claimed Russia wanted to help Trump win the 2016 election.

Asked whether Brennan would be indicted, Bondi declined to confirm or deny the existence of a pending investigation, citing department policy.

“What I will say is that no one is above the law,” she said, adding that “weaponization has ended.”

The referral is part of a broader DOJ review into the origins of the 2016 Trump-Russia investigation, which has included grand jury subpoenas to several former intelligence and FBI officials.

Bondi defends church protest indictment, rebukes First Amendment defense

Bondi also defended the DOJ’s indictment stemming from a protest inside a St. Paul church during Sunday worship services last month, pushing back on claims that the activists involved were exercising protected speech.

In an exchange with Jordan, Bondi agreed that while the Constitution confers a right to protest, protesters do not have the right to disrupt religious services.

“We will always protect our churches and the freedom of religion,” Bondi said. The DOJ has charged nine individuals involved in the incident in part under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a law that had for years been disproportionately weaponized against anti-abortion activists despite the text of the law covering the rights of parishioners as well.

DEMOCRATS RIP BONDI OVER HANDLING OF EPSTEIN CASE IN ROWDY HOUSE HEARING

Jordan referenced public statements from former CNN host Don Lemon, who was also indicted and has argued he was exercising First Amendment rights during the protest.

Bondi responded that the case is pending but confirmed that, according to the indictment, individuals met beforehand, “were gearing for resistance,” and caravanned to the church during Sunday services.