Lemon LIVE at 5 | Pam Bondi DESTROYED During Oversight Hearing

Representative Jamie Raskin described Pam Bondi's testimony as 'surreal' and 'spectacularly disrespectful.' She repeatedly evaded questions about the Epstein files, changing the subject to praise Donald Trump, discuss the stock market, or launch ad hominem attacks on committee members. Raskin noted she had a 'burn book' of insults prepared.

Raskin: 'She would evade, she would dodge, she would change the subject, she would filibuster, and then she began to resort to ad homonym vilification, demonization, and insults of the members of the committee.'

A pivotal moment occurred when Representative Pramila Jayapal asked Epstein survivors in the room to stand and then asked Bondi to apologize to them for the DOJ's handling of their information. Bondi refused to turn or apologize, a moment described by Michael Gold as the 'signature exchange' of the hearing.

Rep. Jayapal: 'Will you turn to them now and apologize for what your Department of Justice has put them through with the absolutely unacceptable release of the Epstein files and their information.' Bondi did not.

Don Lemon and Jamie Raskin revealed that the Department of Justice appeared to be monitoring congressional members' search histories when they reviewed the Epstein files. This information was then allegedly used to prepare Bondi for questions, indicating a surveillance-like tactic.

Raskin: 'What they gave to Attorney General Bondi was all of the searches that Primila Gipol had done on the Epstein file so she would be able to answer them. Basically, they spied on us as we were conducting our pathetic research.'

While many Republicans supported Bondi, Representative Thomas Massie directly challenged her on the mishandling of Epstein files, specifically regarding the redaction of Les Wexner's name as a co-conspirator. This highlighted a division within the Republican party regarding the transparency of the Epstein investigation.

Massie: 'You redacted one name and you redacted the lawyer's name, but you left the survivor's name there.' He also noted, 'The only reason you've unredacted that information is because I went and saw it in the actual state house and asked you all to release it.'

Michael Gold and Jack Cauterella asserted that Bondi's contentious and evasive style was a performance primarily for Donald Trump, mimicking his own communication tactics of pivoting from uncomfortable questions to preferred talking points and personal attacks.

Gold: 'Oftentimes it feels as if they're performing for one person only, and that would be the president.' Cauterella: 'The photo of Pam Bondi refusing to look at, acknowledge, care about survivors encapsulates everything that this administration is about.'