Pam Bondi criticizes Culver City crime during intense confrontation

Bondi and Kamlager-Dove Clash Over Crime Comments

Attorney General Pam Bondi had some strong responses for a California lawmaker who criticized her during a House Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday, focusing on crime in Culver City.

In a contentious exchange with Congressman Sidney Kamlager-Dove, who represents the 37th Congressional District, Bondi accused him of failing to directly apologize to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein who were present. Kamlager-Dove’s comments addressed the Justice Department’s reluctance to meet with survivors, saying, “We have violent and dangerous people making real threats. Your agency’s dishonesty is just covering up these threats that endanger American lives. Do better.”

“I am deeply sorry for what the victims went through,” Bondi responded, her tone indicating a mix of anger and frustration.

Bondi quickly shifted focus to Kamlager-Dove’s district, questioning his inaction regarding crime. “Her district includes Culver City, and she hasn’t addressed crime in her district. She hasn’t done anything about aiding and abetting crime there. Frankly, she’s not even worth discussing in detail,” she stated.

This remark ignited a wave of backlash on social media, including responses from the mayor of Culver City. Mayor Freddy Puza wrote, “Let’s get the facts straight: Crime in Culver City has decreased by 9.7% in 2024 and by an additional 6.1% in the third quarter of 2025.” He mentioned that a comprehensive crime report for the end of 2025 would be released soon.

He asserted, “The facts simply do not back up the Attorney General’s claims made in today’s Congressional hearing. We welcome corrections from the federal Justice Department, but we’re not holding our breath.”

The exchange quickly gained attention online, with many rallying in support of Culver City. Comedians also joined in, with one, Heather Gardner, humorously commenting that the worst crime in Culver City was the price of a smoothie at Erewhon—$24.

One person reminisced, “I lived in Culver City for 8 years! Great city, great people,” while another called Bondi a “crazy lady,” insisting, “Culver City is beautiful.”