Pam Bondi defies House subpoena over Epstein files

Kate Santaliz

Blonde woman in a dark blazer and maroon blouse speaks at a press event, wearing a cross necklace and hoop earrings, with a microphone in front and a man and another woman in the background. — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to reporters following a closed briefing in front of the House Oversight Committee on March 18. Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not comply with a subpoena to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next week for questioning on her handling of the Epstein files.

Why it matters: Lawmakers in both parties are frustrated with how the Justice Department handled the Epstein files, and see Bondi's testimony as key to getting answers in their months-long investigation into Epstein.

Bondi, who was ousted from her post earlier this month, previously told reporters she will "follow the law" in responding to a subpoena from the panel.
"The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer attorney general and was subpoenaed in her capacity as attorney general," a committee spokesperson said.
The panel will reach out to Bondi's personal attorney "to discuss next steps," the spokesperson added.

Catch up quick: The Oversight Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to subpoena Bondi last month, while she was still serving as attorney general.

The motion was offered by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and every Democrat — plus GOP Reps. Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Scott Perry (Pa.) — voted in favor of the subpoena.
Democratic members on the panel stormed out of a closed-door briefing with Bondi last month, saying she refused to answer key questions or would not commit to testifying under oath before the committee

State of play: The top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), accused Bondi of "trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify" in a statement on Wednesday and threatened to hold her in contempt of Congress.

Such a move would require support from at least three Republicans on the panel and a vote by the full House.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) told reporters last month that "we'll talk about it" when pressed on whether they would move to hold Bondi in contempt.
But Mace said in a statement on X Wednesday that Bondi "will still have to appear before the Oversight Committee for a sworn deposition."

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Pam Bondi defies House subpoena over Epstein files

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