Patti Wood, communication expert, on Pam Bondi’s body language: “She’s making the immediate choice to go into attack mode”

During a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on February 11, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Democratic lawmakers over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. As reported by HuffPost, one exchange in particular drew scrutiny from body language experts after it quickly went viral.

When Rep. Jerry Nadler pressed Bondi on how many of Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators had been indicted or were under investigation, she paused for several seconds, adjusted her notebook, and then responded sharply. Her voice rose. She pointed in Nadler’s direction and declared, “I’m gonna answer the question the way I want to answer the question,” later dismissing his “theatrics” as “ridiculous.” She also referred to Rep. Jamie Raskin as a “washed-up, loser lawyer” when he interjected.

How Bondi turned a pen into a weapon

Body language expert Patti Wood via HuffPost said that Bondi’s gestures appeared deliberate. At one point, she held a pen between her fingers and aimed it toward Nadler before thrusting it forward in a sharp motion.

“She’s making the immediate choice to go into attack mode,” Wood said, describing the pen as a “symbolic weapon.” The forceful forward motion, she added, is consistent with what is known as DARVO, shorthand for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender, a tactic sometimes used to deflect accountability.

Wood emphasized that the gestures looked performative rather than reactive. Bondi’s increased volume, projected from the diaphragm, suggested control rather than loss of composure, she argued.

Pam’s power pointing

Clinical psychologist Denise Dudley also via HuffPost said that pointing, especially in a sharp or jabbing manner, is widely perceived as aggressive. Leaders are typically trained to avoid it.

“When someone points at me that way, it’s too direct, it’s too aggressive,” Dudley said, noting that such gestures can trigger instinctive threat responses.

Both experts suggested that anger can be used as a persuasive tool. In their view, Bondi’s posture, facial tension, and vocal intensity were less about emotional overflow and more about strategic defense in a high-stakes political setting, particularly with Epstein’s victims seated only a few feet behind her.

The administration has faced mounting pressure over the Epstein files and continue to try to deflect questions about it. In that context, the experts said, the attorney general’s body language may have conveyed as much as her words.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.