Epstein Survivors Felt 'Degraded' by AG Bondi's Lack of Empathy

Survivors say Bondi refused to face or apologize to them during contentious House hearing on Epstein case

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Six survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse and two family members of another accuser said they felt "degraded" and a "lack of empathy" from Attorney General Pam Bondi during a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. Bondi refused to turn around and face the survivors when asked to apologize to them.

Why it matters

The hearing highlighted the ongoing trauma and lack of closure for Epstein's victims, who say they have not received adequate support or accountability from the Justice Department. The survivors are calling for more prosecutions of Epstein's co-conspirators and want the DOJ to be more transparent and empathetic in its handling of the case.

The details

During the hearing, Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked Epstein survivors in the room to stand up and raise their hands if they hadn't had the opportunity to meet with the DOJ, and every single one raised their hand. Jayapal then asked Bondi to turn toward the survivors and apologize, but Bondi did not do so. The survivors said they felt "degraded" and "like a ghost" during the proceedings, with one saying "there was no integrity in that room today." Bondi did reference Epstein's victims in her opening remarks, saying she was "deeply sorry," but the survivors said she did not apologize for the "crimes of the cover-up."

  • The House Judiciary Committee hearing took place on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who testified at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Epstein case.

Dani Bensky

An Epstein survivor who said she felt "degraded" and "like a ghost" during the hearing, and that Bondi's refusal to acknowledge the survivors was "the exact same type of victimization."

Teresa Helm

An Epstein survivor who alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell groomed her and that she was sexually abused by Epstein in 2002 when she was 22 years old. She said "there was no integrity in that room today" during the hearing.

Sharlene Rochard

An Epstein survivor who said she felt "really degraded" and that Bondi was "not taking at all any accountability" regarding the survivors.

Marina Lacerda

An Epstein survivor who criticized Bondi and the DOJ for allowing the names of survivors to be published in the latest trove of files, saying "You had one job -- was to redact our names, to respect our privacy -- but yet you carefully took the time to redact all these powerful, rich men."

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What they’re saying

“There was such a lack of empathy today. There was such a lack of, honestly, humanity today.”

— Dani Bensky, Epstein Survivor (NBC's "Hallie Jackson NOW")

“There was no integrity in that room today, it seems like, when it came to Epstein and Maxwell.”

— Teresa Helm, Epstein Survivor (NBC News)

“She sat there in the beginning, she said sorry for what Jeffrey Epstein did to us, but yet she couldn't apologize for what she did to us, what her department did to us.”

— Marina Lacerda, Epstein Survivor (NBC News)

What’s next

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to continue its investigation into the Epstein case and the Justice Department's handling of it. Survivors are calling for more prosecutions of Epstein's co-conspirators and greater transparency from the DOJ.

The takeaway

The hearing underscored the ongoing trauma and lack of closure for Epstein's victims, who feel they have not received adequate support or accountability from the Justice Department. This case highlights the need for greater empathy, transparency and accountability in the handling of high-profile sex abuse cases involving powerful individuals.