![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/balint.avif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRep. Becca Balint questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 11, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Lawmakers called the hearing to press Bondi on a range of issues, including Epstein and the Trump administration\u2019s immigration enforcement efforts.<\/p>\n
Balint, a Vermont progressive, asked Bondi during her questioning whether Trump had been aware of billionaire financier Howard Lutnick\u2019s ties to Epstein when he was appointed as commerce secretary. The most recent files released last month showed that Lutnick had visited Epstein\u2019s private island and dined with him years after he said he had cut off ties \u2014 and after Epstein pled guilty to sex crimes.<\/p>\n
After Bondi refused to answer Balint\u2019s question, the congresswoman replied, \u201cI\u2019m going to conclude that the president, in fact, did know about his ties.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of Balint\u2019s questioning, which devolved into shouting as Bondi consistently interrupted Balint, Bondi then raised Balint\u2019s record on antisemitism.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this antisemitic culture right now, she voted against a resolution condemning \u2018from the river to the sea,\u2019\u201d said Bondi, appearing to refer to Balint\u2019s April 2024 vote against a House resolution condemning the common pro-Palestinian slogan. (At the time, Balint said the resolution was \u201cyet another way to sow division and demonize Palestinians.\u201d)<\/p>\n
Balint quickly shot back at Bondi\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, do you want to go there, attorney general? Do you want to go there? Are you serious? Talking about antisemitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust? Really? Really?\u201d said Balint, before rising from her seat and exiting the chambers.<\/p>\n
During her 2022 campaign for Vermont\u2019s single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Balint, who describes her family as \u201cJew-ish,\u201d frequently invoked the story of her Jewish grandfather\u2019s murder during the Holocaust.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust,\u201d Balint said in a campaign video at the time. \u201cMy whole life I\u2019ve known that beating the forces set on dividing us takes showing up every chance you get.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balint\u2019s grandfather, Leopold B\u00e1lint, was killed by the Nazis on a forced march from Mauthausen Concentration Camp in 1945 after he stopped to assist a prisoner.<\/p>\n
The hearing Wednesday featured scathing criticism from Democratic lawmakers of Bondi\u2019s handling of the Epstein case, with Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin accusing her of \u201csiding with the perpetrators\u201d and \u201cignoring the victims.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf AG Bondi claims to care about Epstein survivors, why did she reveal their identities but redact the names of the rich pedophiles and sex abusers who hurt them?\u201d Balint wrote in a post on X Wednesday. \u201cShe must take accountability for this cover-up and finally deliver the justice these victims deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n