Patriot Brief

  • What Happened: Rep. Mark Harris criticized Democrats for repeatedly asking Epstein victims to stand during AG Pam Bondi's hearing, calling it the use of "props."
  • Why It Matters: Harris said multiple Democrat members had the victims stand more than once throughout proceedings, creating what he called a "staged moment" for "dramatic effect."
  • Bottom Line: Democrats have defended their focus on victims as necessary to underscore the human toll of Epstein's crimes and hold officials accountable.

A Republican congressman just called out Democrats for using Jeffrey Epstein's victims as political props during a congressional hearing.

Rep. Mark Harris criticized Democrats on Thursday for repeatedly asking individuals identified as Epstein's victims to stand during Wednesday's hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi. He said it was staged for dramatic effect.

"Because there were different members that had them stand up multiple times, it was almost as if they were being used as props," Harris told Newsmax TV. "That was certainly frustrating and certainly sad that they would be used in that way."

The House Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files, and at several points Democrat lawmakers asked individuals in attendance to stand while discussing the impact of Epstein's crimes and the federal government's response.

Harris said he was not familiar with the specific circumstances of each individual present and cautioned against drawing conclusions without more information. "I'm sure every single one of them has a story, but I wasn't familiar with what their story was," Harris said. "I don't know that they have gone to the FBI and had been turned away. I just don't know."

He added that asking the individuals to repeatedly stand or respond to questions about whether they had been contacted by authorities contributed to what he described as a staged moment for political theater.

"I just have these individuals standing up and being asked questions as props, to ask raise your hand or drop your hand down or has anybody talked to you type of thing," Harris said. "So that was sort of unusual. But again, it was obviously for dramatic effect."

Democrats have defended their focus on Epstein's victims as necessary to underscore the human toll of Epstein's crimes and hold public officials accountable. But Harris is not buying it.

There is a difference between honoring survivors and exploiting them for political gain. Democrats had Epstein victims stand up multiple times during the hearing, asking them to raise their hands and respond to questions in front of cameras. That is not accountability. That is theater.

Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His case and prior plea agreements have continued to draw scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties. But only one party is using victims as props to score political points against the Trump administration.

Harris is right to call it out. Survivors deserve justice, not exploitation.