Pam Bondi's comment about crime in Culver City draws confusion, pushback from residents and mayor
CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- A comment made this week by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi about crime in Culver City has residents and local leaders scratching their heads, with many calling the remark inaccurate and even laughable.
Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday amid multiple controversies, including the government's handling of the Epstein files.
During an exchange with California Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Culver City was brought up.
"Her district includes Culver City, and she's not talking about any crime in her district, nothing about helping crime in her district," Bondi said. "She's not even worth getting into the details."
The statement quickly spread online and prompted an amused - and baffled - reaction from people who live in the city.
"It went viral amongst my friends with laughter, like, we were in shock," resident Laura Lahti said. "This is like the safest place in L.A."
For many locals, the idea that Culver City is a crime hot spot simply doesn't match their experience.
Heather Gardner, a local influencer, posted a viral video poking fun at the comment.
"It's laughable because when you think of Culver City, you don't think of crime, you think of the community, you think of the history of these historic buildings, and the movie industry," Gardner said.
She joked in her video that "the worst crime in Culver City is that they charge $24 for a smoothie at Erewhon."
Meantime, Mayor Freddy Puza responded to Bondi's statement in a post on Instagram and pointed out the declining crime rate in his city.
"The facts simply do not support the Attorney General's narrative from today's Congressional hearing. We welcome the correction from the federal Department of Justice, but we won't hold our breath," Puza said.
Puza said crime has fallen over the past two years.
"The reality is crime has been down," he said. "In 2024, it was down 9.7%, and in the third quarter of 2025, it was down another 6.1% compared to the same time period the previous year."
Puza believes Culver City is all about innovation and growth.
"We're home to TikTok, Amazon Studios, Apple Studios, Sony Studios, Pinterest, but I always say I don't like to be defined by how many corporations we have in the city, but how welcoming ... and the sense of belonging in this city," he said.
Bondi's remark came during testimony focused on the federal government's handling of the Epstein investigation, leaving some residents questioning why Culver City was mentioned at all.
"This was just another brazen, gaslighting moment from the administration where they're talking about a very serious thing, and Pam Bondi made a very unserious comment," Gardner said.
Puza said the city remains focused on public safety and residents' quality of life.
ABC News contributed to this report.
