The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that Pam Bondi, the former U.S. attorney general, will not appear for her scheduled deposition in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. This development comes as Bondi no longer holds her position as attorney general, which was the capacity under which she was originally subpoenaed.
DOJ’s Stance on the Subpoena
The Department of Justice argued that Bondi was subpoenaed in her official capacity as attorney general, not as an individual. Since she is no longer in office, the department’s position is that the subpoena is no longer valid.
Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis informed House Oversight Chairman James Comer in a letter that Bondi is not required to appear on Capitol Hill on April 14 to discuss her role in overseeing the release of the Epstein files. The letter requested confirmation that the subpoena be withdrawn due to Bondi’s current lack of official capacity.
House Oversight Committee Pushes Forward with Investigation
Despite this setback, the House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, has stated that it plans to move forward with the investigation. A spokeswoman for the committee confirmed that they would reach out to Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding her deposition.
Disagreement Over Bondi’s Testimony
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the panel, emphasized that the subpoena issued to Bondi remains valid, regardless of her title. He stated that Bondi must testify and warned that if she fails to comply, the committee would initiate contempt charges in Congress.
The subpoena was issued in a bipartisan manner, with both Republicans and Democrats joining forces to push for Bondi’s testimony. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who led the effort, argued that the subpoena stands because it was directed at Bondi personally, not based on her title. She called for Bondi to appear before the committee for a sworn deposition, stating that the American people deserve answers.
Pressure to Honor the Subpoena
Before President Donald Trump’s recent firing of Bondi, some Democrats and Republicans had been working to ensure that the subpoena would not be rescinded. This week, Mace and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna sent a letter to Chairman Comer urging him to reaffirm that Bondi would appear for her deposition.
Chairman Comer, who did not initially vote for the subpoena, has faced pressure to reconsider his position. While Comer previously indicated that he planned to honor the subpoena, he has since stated that he would consult with fellow Republicans before making any further decisions on the matter.
Bondi’s Role in Epstein Investigation
Bondi’s handling of the Epstein investigation has come under scrutiny, and her position within the Trump administration was negatively impacted by her involvement in the case. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently addressed the issue by stating that the matter would be left to Chairman Comer and others to resolve.
