House Democrats Subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi for Epstein Files Testimony: Uncertainty Looms Over Compliance
House Democrats left a closed-door meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi during a briefing on the Epstein files after she was subpoenaed to testify in mid-April. Bondi, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, did not commit to complying with the subpoena for her sworn testimony on April 14 regarding the DOJ's handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Robert Garcia stated that Bondi refused to commit to following the subpoena.
Bondi later clarified to reporters that she would follow the law when asked about complying with the subpoena. The committee voted 24-19 to subpoena Bondi, with five Republicans supporting the move. Committee chair James Comer announced that the subpoena had been sent but did not confirm if Bondi would face contempt of Congress if she did not comply.
During the briefing, Rep. Summer Lee questioned Comer about compelling Bondi to attend the April deposition and potentially holding her in contempt. Comer's response led to a heated exchange where he was accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior. The DOJ criticized the Bondi subpoena as unnecessary, highlighting ongoing discussions with Congress regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
At a previous House Oversight Committee hearing, Bondi commended the Justice Department's efforts to adhere to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the public release of information from the Epstein investigation. Bondi's testimony remains uncertain as Democrats and Republicans navigate the implications of the subpoena and potential contempt proceedings.