Pam Bondi clashes with Democrats at heated House confirmation hearing

The prevailing consensus in the media is that Pam Bondi gave a terrible performance at the House hearing, hurling personal insults at Democratic lawmakers.

And of course, he almost managed to avoid questions by repeating his “Merrick Garland” mantra — why, for example, did they never question Joe Biden’s AG about the Jeffrey Epstein case? (Some members agreed that he was right, but did not get an answer about his own tenure.)

Yet Democrats played a significant role in this meltdown. Members used four of their allotted five minutes to repeatedly make angry speeches, then clashed with Bondi as she tried to divert her questions as the final seconds ticked away.

In short, they also treated the hearings like a circus on steroids, but were largely given free rein by the mainstream media.

BONDI POSTURE TURNS INTO CHAO WITH SCREAMS AS AG ACCUSES TOP DEMOCRATS OF ‘THATER’

Everyone looked terrible. But still, in this hyper-partisan age, neither side believed that important information would come to light. These days, the goal is to create a viral moment that can be replayed on television, online, or in videos they post on social media and YouTube.

No one loves mortal combat more than the cable news producers who water down these moments as announcers, hosts and guests debate for days; Just as the never-ending Bad Bunny controversy was finally starting to fade.

Despite the seriousness of the subject—a child sex trafficking ring led by a man who, with the help of his backer Ghislaine Maxwell, traded favors with supposedly honest members of the establishment—the context was almost lost in the shouting.

Bondi accused Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” (Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty)

Democrats were forced to call Bondi a liar and the perpetrator of a massive cover-up who should resign immediately. The attorney general called Jamie Raskin a “worn-out loser” and Republican Thomas Massie suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” About Pramila Jayapal he said: “I will not get into mud because of her theatrical performances.”

When Jerry Nadler gave a long lecture about how many people had been charged in the Epstein investigation, he barely had time to answer his own question: Zero.

Perhaps the worst moment came when it was the turn of Jewish Democratic Rep. Becca Balint to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza.

“He voted against a resolution condemning this antisemitic culture,” Bondi said.

The Vermont congressman interrupted him. “You’re talking to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust,” Balint said, rushing out of the room.

THE TOP 5 MOMENTS WHEN BONDI Clashed WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE HOT HOUSE HEARING

In a few high-decibel hours, we got a masterclass in the sizzling partisanship of both parties. But there is a long history here, going back to the days when the two parties were not beholden to the politics of personal destruction.

Theater has always existed as an art form. At the 1973 Senate Watergate hearings, Richard Nixon’s aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of a recording system at the White House that senior committee officials knew about; This completely transformed the investigation and led the panel to vote bipartisanly to impeach the president.

The 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings on charges of Communist infiltration culminated in Army counsel Joseph Welch confronting Joe McCarthy: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? After all, have you no sense of decency?” This was at the dawn of the television age and led to the condemnation of the reckless Wisconsin senator.

It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that Bondi is playing to an audience of one. He has repeatedly said that Donald Trump is the greatest president in history. And on Truth Social, he shared that she had an “amazing” performance against “Trump’s Deranged Radical Left Crazies” and “SLIMEBALL Democrats.”

What seemed particularly absurd was Bondi’s declaration that Epstein’s ruckus was designed to divert attention from the Dow breaking 50,000.

Eleven of Epstein’s victims were seated behind Bondi at the hearing. (Tom Brenner/AP Photo)

For all the histrionics, it was a quiet moment that brought the day.

Eleven of Epstein’s victims were seated behind the witness in the audience. Bondi, who has never met with them, said the Justice Department was happy to meet with any of them immediately.

SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE’S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF OF THE TODAY’S TOP STORIES

That’s when Jayapal – and it was a bit of an overstatement – asked Bondi to turn around and apologize to these women whose lives as girls were ruined by Epstein. Pam Bondi ignored the offer.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

The Democrat asked the women to stand and raise their hands if they haven’t met with the Trump Justice Department yet. Each one stood up and sent a clear message.