Jimmy Kimmel Slams 'Dance Mom' Pam Bondi After Explosive Epstein Hearing

The late-night host criticized the Attorney General for her combative performance and praise of President Trump during a congressional hearing.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Jimmy Kimmel criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for her handling of the Epstein files and her performance during a congressional hearing. Kimmel mocked Bondi for repeatedly praising President Trump during the hearing and for her combative interactions with Democratic politicians. He accused the Department of Justice of a 'brazen cover-up' by hiding the names of people who are not victims in the Epstein documents.

Why it matters

Bondi's handling of the Epstein case and her defense of the Department of Justice's actions have drawn significant criticism, with Kimmel accusing the DOJ of a 'cover-up' by redacting names of non-victims from the files. This highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the government's response to the Epstein scandal.

The details

During a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Bondi was questioned about her department's failure to properly redact sensitive information from the Epstein documents. Kimmel mocked Bondi for spending much of the hearing praising President Trump, at one point calling him 'the most transparent president in the nation's history.' Kimmel also criticized Bondi for repeatedly interrupting Democratic politicians during the hearing, comparing her to a 'crazed dance mom.'

  • The congressional hearing took place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • Kimmel addressed Bondi's performance during the hearing on his show that same night, February 11, 2026.

The players

Jimmy Kimmel

The host of the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who attended the congressional hearing and was criticized by Kimmel for her handling of the Epstein files and her combative interactions during the hearing.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, whom Bondi repeatedly praised during the congressional hearing.

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What they’re saying

“This is the kind of woman who, if you lived next door to her, you'd move. You wouldn't even argue with her. You'd just relocate and never go back to the block.”

— Jimmy Kimmel, Late-night host (Jimmy Kimmel Live!)

“That's right. He's so transparent, you had to black out his name like a thousand times.”

— Jimmy Kimmel, Late-night host (Jimmy Kimmel Live!)

“It's like speaking to a teenage girl. She keeps talking like that, Epstein is going to come back from the dead and ask for a massage.”

— Jimmy Kimmel, Late-night host (Jimmy Kimmel Live!)

What’s next

The Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein files and the redaction of non-victim names is likely to face continued scrutiny and investigation, with calls for greater transparency and accountability.

The takeaway

Kimmel's scathing criticism of Bondi's performance and the DOJ's actions highlights the ongoing concerns about the government's response to the Epstein scandal and the need for a thorough, transparent investigation into the matter.