A heated exchange during a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday led Democratic Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont to walk out after a contentious line of questioning from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The exchange centered on connections between Commerce Secretary Lutnick and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as accusations of antisemitism.
The Exchange
Representative Balint questioned Attorney General Bondi about why questions weren’t being asked of the commerce secretary regarding his visit to Epstein’s island in 2012, noting that he had previously lied about not going. Bondi responded with “Shame.” Balint then urged Bondi to meet with survivors of Epstein’s abuse, to which Bondi responded by questioning whether Balint had asked Bill Clinton about similar issues and criticizing the lack of questions directed toward Merrick Garland regarding Epstein.
The exchange escalated when Bondi accused Balint of antisemitism, referencing a vote against a resolution condemning antisemitism and referencing the phrase “from the river to the sea.” An unidentified person clarified for the record that Balint is Jewish. Balint, who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust, expressed disbelief at the accusation.
Following the exchange, Representative Balint left the hearing. She later stated she needed to collect herself and was disgusted that Bondi continued to focus on other matters instead of addressing the concerns of Epstein’s survivors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Representative Balint walk out of the hearing?
Representative Balint walked out after becoming disgusted that Attorney General Bondi continued to focus on other matters instead of addressing the concerns of Epstein’s survivors and accused her of antisemitism.
What did Representative Balint ask Attorney General Bondi?
Representative Balint questioned why questions weren’t being asked of the commerce secretary about his visit to Epstein’s island in 2012 and urged Bondi to meet with survivors of Epstein’s abuse.
What did Attorney General Bondi say in response?
Attorney General Bondi responded with “Shame,” questioned whether Representative Balint had asked Bill Clinton about similar issues, and accused Representative Balint of antisemitism.
Given the contentious nature of the hearing and the accusations made, further investigations and scrutiny of the connections between high-ranking officials and Jeffrey Epstein are likely to continue. It is also possible that this exchange will further polarize political discourse surrounding the issue.
