LIVE: AG Pam Bondi Testifies Before Congress

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Department of Justice, under President Trump, achieved a 20% drop in the national murder rate in 2025, marking the lowest murder rate in 125 years. Other violent crimes also saw significant decreases: robbery down 23%, carjacking down 43%, and gun assault down 22%. Bondi attributed these results to increased resources and support for law enforcement, emphasizing cooperation with local Democratic mayors in cities like Washington D.C. and Memphis.

Bondi's opening statement and responses to questions. 'In 2025, we saw the lowest murder rate in 125 years. That's nothing short of historic. If you compare 25 to 24, here's what you'll find. The murder rate is down 21%. Robbery down 23%. Carjacking down 43%. Gun assault down 22%.'

Democratic members, including Mr. Raskin and Ms. Jayapal, severely criticized Attorney General Bondi for the handling of the Epstein files. They alleged that the DOJ redacted names of powerful abusers and co-conspirators, such as Sultan Alhmed bin Sulam and Les Wexner, while failing to adequately protect the identities of victims, some of whom had their names, addresses, and even nude images released. Bondi defended the DOJ's efforts, citing the tight 30-day timeframe for reviewing millions of pages and stating that any inadvertent releases of victim names were promptly redacted upon notification.

Mr. Raskin: 'You've been ordered by subpoena and by Congress to turn over 6 million documents... but you've turned over only three million.' Ms. Jayapal: 'Your Department of Justice initially released this list of 32 survivors names with only one name redacted along with numerous files that disclose not only the names, the emails, and the addresses of survivors, but also nude photographs and even the identities of Jane Doe's.' Bondi: 'More than 500 attorneys and reviewers spent thousands of hours painstakingly reviewing millions of pages to comply with Congress's law. We've released more than 3 million pages... while doing our very best... to protect victims.'

Attorney General Bondi announced the establishment of a new National Fraud Enforcement Division, headed by Colin McDonald, to combat rampant fraud across the country, particularly highlighting issues in Minnesota and California. Additionally, she addressed the growing concern of illegal Chinese vapes being sold in the US, noting their potential to be laced with lethal drugs like fentanyl. Bondi emphasized the DOJ's partnership with HHS Secretary Kennedy to tackle this issue, which she views as a bipartisan concern for child safety.

Bondi: 'Justice Department under the leadership of Attorney General Bondi has established a new national fraud division.' 'In 2025, our DEA agents seized more than 47 million fentanyl pills and more than 9,800 total kilos of fentanyl.' 'So many of these are being manufactured in China, sent to our country, and have the potential to be laced with lethal drugs.'

Republican members, including Mr. Tiffany and Mr. Kylie, strongly criticized 'sanctuary jurisdictions' (cities, counties, and states) for refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement (ICE) detainers. They presented cases of criminal illegal aliens being released into communities instead of being transferred to ICE, leading to further crimes. Bondi affirmed that such policies endanger citizens and attract criminal gangs like MS-13 and TDA. She stated that federal detainers are federal law and that the Trump administration is committed to deporting criminal illegal aliens despite local non-cooperation.

Mr. Tiffany: '31% of the American people... live in a city, county, or state where the left-wing leadership tells local law enforcement not to work with federal law enforcement.' Bondi: 'We are doing everything in our power to arrest and deport illegal criminal aliens. And that is not going to stop under Donald Trump's administration.'

Both Republican and Democratic members accused the DOJ of political weaponization. Republicans, led by Mr. Tiffany and Mr. Jordan, claimed the Biden-Harris DOJ targeted parents as domestic terrorists, used FBI SWAT teams against pro-life advocates, and launched investigations into President Trump. They also raised concerns about FISA Section 702 being used to collect phone records of members of Congress. Democrats, conversely, accused Bondi's DOJ of targeting Trump's perceived enemies, such as New York AG Tish James and members of Congress, while protecting allies and failing to prosecute Epstein's co-conspirators.

Mr. Tiffany: 'The Biden Harris Department of Justice called parents domestic terrorists. The Biden Harris Justice Department used FBI SWAT teams to arrest pro-life advocates.' Mr. Nadler: 'This DOJ has been hellbent on securing an indictment against Miss James for something, anything, simply because she held Donald Trump's companies accountable.' Bondi: 'The Department adjusted ended the practices of using the face act to target pro-life Americans.'

Mr. Smith (Kansas) highlighted the 'Khloe Cole Act,' a bill drafted by the DOJ at President Trump's direction, aimed at creating a private right of action for children and parents whose 'healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing chemical and surgical mutilation.' The bill was named after Khloe Cole, a detransitioner who testified about her negative experiences with puberty blockers and testosterone at a young age. Bondi expressed support for the bill, emphasizing its role in protecting children and holding accountable those who cause harm.

Mr. Smith: 'This executive order also directed you as attorney general general to quote uh work to draft, propose, and promote legislation to enact a private right of action for children and the parents of children whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing chemical and surgical mutilation.' Bondi: 'It allows victims um whose healthy body parts have been damaged to seek relief and obtain relief.'