Pam Bondi Confronted About DOJ Hiring Jan. 6 Rioter Who Shouted ‘Kill ‘Em’ at Capitol Police

Attorney General Pam Bondi faced sharp questions on Capitol Hill this week on a range of issues, including why a senior Justice Department adviser is a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who was recorded urging violence against police.

Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and was pressed on topics ranging from the Epstein files to the administration’s response to Homeland Security-related shootings in Minneapolis.

During his questioning, Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, played police body-camera footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In the video, a man appears to shout, “Kill ’em, kill ’em, kill ’em, get ’em, get ’em!” at Capitol Police officers.

Neguse identified the man as Jared Wise and asked Bondi to confirm Wise now works at the Justice Department. Bondi confirmed that he does.

Neguse said Wise was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the Capitol attack, including counts alleging he assaulted or interfered with law enforcement. He also cited other footage from that day in which Wise berates officers and calls them “Nazis” and “Gestapo.”

Neguse challenged Bondi on the decision to employ someone seen on video yelling for officers to be killed. Bondi replied that she believed Wise had been pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Neguse acknowledged Wise was among nearly 1,600 people granted clemency by Trump on the first day of his second term. He argued that hiring Wise undermines the administration’s claims of supporting law enforcement and criticized Bondi for not condemning Wise’s remarks.

When Wise’s connection to the department drew attention in 2025, a spokesperson told NPR that Wise was “a valued member of the Justice Department” and that the agency appreciated his contributions.

Another tense moment came when several Epstein survivors—who have publicly urged the Justice Department to release all files connected to Jeffrey Epstein—stood and raised their hands to indicate the administration had refused to meet with them. Bondi did not respond to the demonstration.

Bondi was combative throughout much of the hearing, at times raising her voice and directing personal attacks at members of the committee. She insulted Rep. Jamie Raskin, the committee’s top Democrat, and criticized Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican who has pushed for more transparency on the Epstein files. On several occasions, she tried to shift from questions to discussing the stock market, before being told to return to the subject at hand.

The hearing also grew heated when Bondi confronted Rep. Becca Balint, a Democrat, over Balint’s vote against a resolution that labeled the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic. Balint responded angrily, saying her family had been directly affected by the Holocaust, before leaving the hearing room.