Democrat Makes Shock Claim About Identity of Woman in Horrifying Andrew Photos

A House Judiciary hearing erupted into political and moral confrontation Wednesday when Rep. Ted Lieu accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of protecting powerful men tied to Jeffrey Epstein — including Britain’s disgraced royal, Prince Andrew.

Holding up two photographs released last month in the Trump Justice Department’s long-delayed Epstein document dump, Lieu made a claim that sent a chill through the hearing room.

“We are looking at a sex trafficking victim,” the California Democrat said, pointing to images showing Andrew straddling an unidentified woman. “Under federal law, anyone who patronizes a trafficking operation is committing a crime.”

The woman’s identity was redacted. Lieu argued that fact alone speaks volumes.

“If the administration invoked trafficking protections to conceal her name,” he said, “that tells you exactly what she is — a victim.”

The heated exchange comes as President Donald Trump, now in his second term, faces growing pressure from Democrats and segments of his own party over what critics call a “botched and selective” release of Epstein-related files. The Department of Justice announced in July 2025 that it would bring no additional charges tied to Epstein’s trafficking network — a move that stunned victims’ advocates and sparked bipartisan outrage.

For many Democrats, Wednesday’s hearing was less about old crimes and more about present accountability.

“These two photos staring you in the face are evidence of a crime,” Lieu said. “More than enough to open — or reopen — an investigation into former Prince Andrew. So why was the case closed? Why was no one else charged?”

Bondi deflected.

“I don’t believe you asked Merrick Garland these questions,” she shot back, referencing former Attorney General Merrick Garland under President Joe Biden.

Lieu didn’t take the bait.

“Garland dropped the ball,” he said. “So did Bill Barr. So did Alex Acosta. A whole string of failures.”
He paused. “But you’re in charge now. And you’re protecting them.”

Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has haunted him for years. The Duke of York maintained contact with the financier even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. A now-infamous 2000 photograph shows Andrew with Epstein at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach — a reminder of the overlapping social circles of power in that era.

One of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she was trafficked to Andrew at age 17. Andrew denied the allegation but reached a civil settlement with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. The settlement included no admission of liability.

He was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages amid the scandal. He has since retreated from public life.

But the political fallout in Washington is far from over.

The Trump administration’s decision last year to declare the Epstein investigation effectively closed remains a political flashpoint in 2026. Victims’ rights groups argue that the federal government has yet to fully expose Epstein’s network of enablers and clients.

“The American people were promised transparency,” said one Democratic committee aide following the hearing. “Instead, we got redactions and a closed file.”

Lieu went further, accusing Bondi of misleading Congress when she previously claimed there was “no evidence” of criminal wrongdoing by individuals connected to Epstein’s circle.

“When the DOJ shields names, shuts down prosecutions, and refuses to pursue obvious leads, it sends a message,” Lieu said. “That power protects itself.”

Bondi maintained that the department followed the law and redacted materials to protect victims. She did not directly address whether Andrew is under active investigation.

Across the Atlantic, British authorities have also faced renewed questions. U.K. officials previously discussed whether to examine claims that Andrew shared confidential government material with Epstein. No charges have been filed.

A media consultant previously tied to Andrew declined to comment when contacted.

For Democrats, the issue now extends beyond a British royal.

“This isn’t about monarchy gossip,” one senior Democratic lawmaker said privately. “It’s about whether the United States will prosecute powerful men who exploited trafficked women. Or whether those men are simply too connected.”

As Trump campaigns on law-and-order themes in his second term, Democrats are seizing on the Epstein files as a symbol of unfinished justice.

“The victims were minors. They were trafficked,” Lieu said. “If we can’t hold the rich and powerful accountable in a case like this, what does that say about our system?”

The photographs remain public.
The redactions remain sealed.
And the questions — for now — remain unanswered.