Bondi had list of a Democratic lawmaker's Epstein files "search history"

A high-profile House Democrat is accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of "spying" connected her hunt past portion she pored done Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, aft Bondi was seen astatine a combative legislature proceeding Wednesday with what appeared to beryllium a database of the lawmaker's searches.

One of the printouts that Bondi referenced during the proceeding was a database labeled "Jayapal Pramila Search History," referring to Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington. The papers listed retired astatine slightest 8 antithetic files from the Justice Department's trove of Epstein records, including their record numbers and little descriptions of their contents, according to images snapped by photojournalists who covered the hearing.

Attorney General Pam Bondi holds a portion of insubstantial labeled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" during the House Judiciary Committee's proceeding Wednesday. Kent Nishimura / REUTERS

It's not wholly wide however the database was compiled, but since Monday, the Justice Department has allowed respective members of Congress to sojourn its offices and hunt done a database of unredacted Epstein files. In caller weeks, the section has made millions of records connected the precocious enactment offender public, but with redactions to instrumentality retired survivors' names and different information, drafting disapproval from immoderate lawmakers who reason the redactions were excessive.

Jayapal said successful a connection to CBS News connected Wednesday: "It is wholly inappropriate and against the separations of powers for the DOJ to surveil america arsenic we hunt the Epstein files." 

"Bondi showed up contiguous with a pain publication that held a printed hunt past of precisely what emails I searched," said the Democrat, who antecedently chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "That is outrageous and I mean to prosecute this and halt this spying connected members."

Jayapal's bureau said she is organizing a missive seeking to analyse what she alleges is improper surveillance of lawmakers who reviewed the Epstein files.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the apical Democrat connected the House Judiciary Committee, said successful a connection Wednesday helium volition inquire the Justice Department's Inspector General to analyse what helium called an "outrageous maltreatment of power."

"This is conscionable getting Orwellian with these people," Raskin told reporters, adding: "They amended chopped it retired immediately, present that they've been caught."

CBS News has reached retired to the Justice Department for comment.

Jayapal was among the Democrats who sparred with Bondi during an hourslong and often pugilistic House Judiciary Committee proceeding that focused mostly connected the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files.

At 1 point, Jayapal pressed Bondi implicit the information that immoderate Epstein survivors' idiosyncratic accusation was near unredacted. She asked survivors who attended the proceeding to rise their hands if they had not yet met with the Justice Department, and asked Bondi to apologize for failing to shield their idiosyncratic information.

Bondi responded by criticizing Biden-era Attorney General Merrick Garland implicit his handling of the Epstein matter, and said: "I'm not going to get successful the gutter for her theatrics."