Attorney General Pam Bondi endured a contentious five-hour grilling from House lawmakers over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein case files, while refusing to apologize to survivors who attended the hearing.

Epstein Survivors Demand Answers

Six Epstein abuse survivors and two family members of another accuser expressed feeling degraded during the House Judiciary Committee hearing. Lawmakers pressed Bondi on why the released files contained heavy redactions and why several survivors’ names were omitted. Survivor Dani Bensky criticized the proceedings, telling NBC there was a complete lack of empathy and humanity displayed during the session.

Religious Liberty Commission Controversy

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick removed Carrie Prejean Boller from the federal Religious Liberty Commission following heated exchanges about antisemitism definitions. Prejean Boller defended commentator Candace Owens against antisemitism accusations and quoted biblical verses attributing Christ’s death to Jewish people. Patrick stated no commission member has the right to hijack hearings for personal political agendas.

House Votes Against Trump Tariffs

The Republican-controlled House passed a resolution terminating Trump’s tariffs on Canada by a 219-211 margin, with six GOP lawmakers joining Democrats in opposing the administration’s trade policy. Only Maine Democrat Jared Golden voted against the measure, which now advances to the Senate. The vote represents a symbolic rebuke of Trump’s economic approach from his own party members.

Governor Meeting Dispute

Trump announced invitations went to all governors except Maryland’s Wes Moore and Colorado’s Jared Polis for next week’s traditional bipartisan White House meeting. The February 20 gathering sparked controversy after reports suggested only Republican governors would attend. Trump also criticized Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, calling him a Republican in name only over the dispute.