Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a sworn deposition before the House Oversight Committee on 14 April, the Department of Justice confirmed. The scheduled testimony was part of the committee’s bipartisan investigation into the handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Why it matters: The refusal sets up a potential contempt of Congress clash and stalls one of the few bipartisan investigations on Capitol Hill, leaving survivors and the public waiting for answers about the Epstein files.
The DOJ’s argument
The Justice Department said the subpoena was issued to Bondi in her capacity as attorney general. Since Trump fired her on 2 April, the DOJ argues the obligation has lapsed.
Bondi was dismissed after months of controversy over the Epstein investigation. The DOJ missed a congressional deadline to release documents, and reporting indicated Trump was unhappy with how Bondi handled the files.
Committee pushes back
Leaders from both parties rejected the DOJ’s position. Representative Nancy Mace said the subpoena was issued “by name, not by title” and remains legally binding regardless of Bondi’s employment status.
Representative Robert Garcia warned that if Bondi does not appear, the committee will initiate contempt charges. “The survivors deserve justice,” Garcia said in a statement.
The committee said it would contact Bondi’s personal attorney to discuss next steps.
What happens next
If the committee votes to hold Bondi in contempt, the matter would be referred to the full House. A contempt referral would mark a significant escalation in the bipartisan push to make the Epstein files public. The committee has not yet set a new date for the deposition.