Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing heavy criticism from conservative pundits and influencers after her testimony this week about how the Department of Justice handled the Jeffrey Epstein files. She appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to answer questions about claims of a cover-up related to the dead financier.
Her performance backfired badly, especially with her own political allies. According to The Hill, the testimony created a huge wave of criticism from the very people who normally defend the administration. Several well-known conservative voices quickly criticized the Attorney General for how she acted and her lack of clear answers.
Online influencer Tim Pool said the DOJ had “miserably handled the Epstein files” and criticized the “kind of yelling” during the hearing. He praised Republican lawmakers like Rep. Thomas Massie who pressed Bondi hard on the issue.
Conservative media turns against Bondi’s emotional testimony style
The conservative media backlash focused on Bondi appearing too defensive and emotional. One well-known television host said she came off “like a shrieking Karen.” The host added that she wants to believe the administration is doing the right thing, but when Bondi is “this emotional, it looks like she’s lost a little bit of the edge.”
Perhaps the worst moment came when conservative radio host Erick Erickson reacted to a clip where Bondi avoided questions about prosecuting people linked to Epstein. Instead of defending the DOJ’s investigation progress, Bondi talked about the stock market’s recent success under President Trump.
Erickson was angry and wrote on X that when the Attorney General is asked why she hasn’t prosecuted anyone related to Epstein, and that is her answer, “she should be fired or resign.” Right-wing pundit Dana Loesch was equally direct on her radio show the day after the hearing, saying Bondi “made an a— of herself.”
Loesch pointed out that the criticism wasn’t just from Democrats. Real conservatives like Jim Jordan and Brandon Gill were also questioning Bondi hard. The administration has faced other controversies recently, including how regulatory changes affected consumer costs.
The loudest claims of a cover-up are actually coming from the MAGA base itself. During the hearing, Rep. Jesús “Chuy” GarcÃa, a Democrat, told Bondi that her “MAGA base despises you because you’re covering up the Epstein file.” He called the situation “How ironic,” noting that nobody seems to support her now.
This doubt isn’t new. Bondi faced heavy criticism last year after the Justice Department said Epstein died by suicide. She was also criticized because the DOJ confirmed there was no secret “client list,” even though Bondi had earlier suggested such a list was on her desk.
Conservative pundit Megyn Kelly blasted Bondi at the time, saying she had “humiliated” many MAGA media figures. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones even said the outcome proved that “the swamp” is “winning.” While this drama unfolds, the administration continues pushing forward with its massive deregulation plans.
Published: Feb 14, 2026 12:45 pm