Pam Bondi to finally appear before House panel over Epstein files release

Pam Bondi will appear before the US House oversight and reform committee to answer questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the release of Epstein files during her leadership. The committee scheduled the appearance after filing a civil contempt resolution against her. The DOJ has faced criticism for compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, including missing a 19 December deadline and releasing files on 31 January. Survivors raised concerns about improper disclosure of sensitive personal information, and lawmakers criticized some redactions. The DOJ maintained its actions complied with the law. Bondi was subpoenaed in March while attorney general, but after she was removed from the role, the committee was told she would not appear because the subpoena was issued in her official capacity and she no longer held that office.

"Pam Bondi will appear before the US House oversight and reform committee on Friday morning to answer questions about the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its release of the Epstein files under her leadership. The committee announced in late April that Bondi would be appearing before the panel as part of its investigation into Epstein, shortly after Democrats on the committee filed a civil contempt resolution against her."

"The justice department has faced criticism in recent months over its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, after the department failed to meet the act's 19 December deadline to release the relevant files, instead releasing what it claimed were the full files on 31 January. Survivors of Epstein's abuse have also raised concerns that sensitive personal information was improperly disclosed in the files, while several lawmakers have also criticized some of the redactions in the documents."

"Bondi was formally subpoenaed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers on the committee in March, while she was still serving as attorney general. In that subpoena letter, Representative James Comer, the Republican who chairs the committee, wrote that there were 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."

"After Donald Trump removed Bondi from her role, the committee said it was informed by the justice department that Bondi would not be appearing for the scheduled deposition, arguing that the committee issued the subpoena to Ms Bondi in her official capacity as attorney general and Bondi no longer holds that office and therefore the subpoena no longer obligates her to appear. Bondi did not appear for her requested deposition date."

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