A US House committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify on the handling of Jeffrey Epstein case documents, citing transparency concerns
WASHINGTON: The US House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the government’s handling of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Bondi will appear for a closed-door deposition on April 14 as lawmakers investigate the federal probe into Epstein and his associates.
The move follows a committee vote earlier this month to compel Bondi’s testimony, with bipartisan support for the measure.
In a letter to Bondi, Republican chairman James Comer said the panel was examining the Justice Department’s compliance with a law requiring the release of Epstein-related documents.
“As attorney general, you are directly responsible for overseeing the department’s collection, review and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts,” Comer said.
Lawmakers from both parties have criticised the department’s rollout of the files, arguing large portions remain unreleased or heavily redacted.
Congressional and media analysis indicates the Justice Department has released roughly half of the six million pages in its possession.
Tens of thousands of documents have been withheld, including material containing explicit content or identifying victims.
Some lawmakers have also raised concerns about missing records, including documents and video evidence they believe should have been turned over under the law.
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who introduced the motion to subpoena Bondi, accused the department of withholding information.
“Every victim deserves justice. Every crime deserves prosecution. But the reality is the rich and powerful rarely face consequences,” she posted on social media.
“We will not let this go away. We will keep pushing and demanding answers until the truth can no longer be ignored.”
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors.
His case has remained politically charged, with continuing disputes over the release of investigative records and the extent of his network.
The scandal has been fueled by broader questions over the handling of the Epstein investigation.
This includes the circumstances surrounding his death and the prosecution of his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche are scheduled to brief committee members behind closed doors this week.
Lawmakers said those sessions would not replace the formal testimony now compelled by the subpoena.
The Sun Malaysia
