House panel demands Pam Bondi testify on her handling of the Epstein files

House panel demands Pam Bondi testify on her handling of the Epstein files Trump’s attorney general will appear for a deposition April 14 The House Oversight Committee formally subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions about files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, issued the subpoena on Tuesday requiring Bondi to appear for a deposition on April 14. In the subpoena cover letter, Comer wrote that the panel was “reviewing the possible mismanagement” of the government’s investigation into Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted on sex trafficking charges in 2021. “The Committee has questions regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” Comer wrote. Comer added that Bondi is “directly responsible” for overseeing the review and release of the related files. The committee indicated it could use the results of the probe “to inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations.” A Department of Justice spokesperson slammed the subpoena as “completely unnecessary” in a statement to The Independent. “Lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files for themselves at the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress,” the spokersperson said. “She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow. As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts,” the spokesperson continued. The House Oversight Committee voted earlier this month to subpoena Bondi to testify about her role in the release of the files, with five Republicans crossing the aisle to join Democrats in favor. Bondi has received months of mounting backlash over her handling of the release of a cache of documents related to Epstein, with critics complaining that the files were overly redacted and demanding greater transparency. “Thanks to united Oversight Committee Democrats, along with the support of several Republicans, the Attorney General will now appear before our committee under oath. No more lies. No more distractions. We want the truth — and justice for the survivors,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the panel, said in a statement after the vote earlier this month. “Pam Bondi continues to lead a White House cover-up that has concealed the full Epstein files while ignoring both the Oversight Committee’s subpoena and the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” Garcia added. The House Oversight Committee also announced Tuesday that Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche are expected to brief members of the panel behind closed doors on Wednesday. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks