Robert Garcia Rips Republicans for Failing to Swear In Pam Bondi as Epstein Hearing Kicks Off

A House Oversight Committee hearing on Pam Bondi’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein files proceeded with a reduced format. The committee had subpoenaed Bondi for a formal, under-oath deposition in March. After President Donald Trump fired Bondi in April, the Department of Justice said she would not appear for an April 14 deposition. Lawmakers later secured her appearance, but it would not be videotaped and would not occur under oath. A public transcript would be released instead. Ranking member Robert Garcia criticized Republicans for the scaled-back process, demanded an oath and video recording, and raised questions about why only part of the files were released, characterizing government actions as a cover-up.

"The House Oversight Committee issued the then-Attorney General a subpoena in March, requiring her to sit for a formal deposition, under oath, to answer questions about her handling of the DOJ's messy release of documents relating to Epstein. But after President Donald Trump fired Bondi in April over issues many believed stemmed from her conduct surrounding the files and her prior disastrous testimony to Congress the Department of Justice claimed the former attorney general would not be appearing for her April 14 deposition."

"After, in part, an internal effort from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Committee announced that Bondi would answer questions after all, but in a much less formal capacity. Bondi's appearance will not be videotaped, nor will it occur under oath. Instead, a transcript of the hearing will be released to the public. Rep. Garcia, who has repeatedly pushed for real hearings, began Friday's proceedings by tearing into Comer and Republicans on the committee for the scaled-back Bondi appearance."

"I just want to be very clear that we continue to be incredibly disappointed of the decision to not have the interview videotaped and then released to the American public, he told press outside the hearing room. The second thing we asked Chairman Comer is to ensure that this interview is under oath. We understand the Attorney General is going to be there answering questions from Congress. It should have been under oath, and it should be videotaped."

"The congressman went on to outline some of the committee's questions for Bondi, calling the government's actions around the files some type of cover-up. We obviously have a lot of questions as it relates to why only 50 percent of the files have been released, why ma"

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