GOP lawmaker explains Pam Bondi's 'cold' response to Epstein survivors: 'She was afraid'

The fallout from Attorney General Pam Bondi’s “disqualifying” performance last week during an explosive congressional hearing has continued well into its fourth day, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) slamming the nation’s top law enforcement official on Sunday for what he described as her “cold” response to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse.

Last Wednesday, Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee, taking a barrage of questions about Epstein and her agency’s failure to prosecute any of his potential co-conspirators.

One moment during the hearing stood out in particular. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) had asked a group of Epstein survivors attending the hearing to raise their hands if they’d been unable to meet with DOJ officials. Unanimously, the survivors raised their hands, a moment that was captured in a striking photo showing a stone-faced Bondi facing forward with her back turned to the survivors.

Appearing on ABC News Sunday, Massie was asked about that moment by ABC News’ Martha Raddatz.

“I want to talk to you about one of the moments in the hearing, and that is the attorney general would not look at the Epstein survivors behind her,” Raddatz said. “Did that surprise you?”

Massie, who’s being fiercely critical of Bondi and the DOJ over its non-compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, accused her of being “afraid” to confront the Epstein survivors standing just feet behind her.

“I think that was kind of cold on her part. I think she was afraid to,” Massie told Raddatz.

“And look, these survivors would love to have a meeting. It’s not about Bill Clinton and it’s not about Donald Trump. This Epstein Files Transparency Act was about getting these survivors justice. We’ve got some degree of transparency but it’s called the Department of Justice, not the department of transparency.”