Lawmakers press Bondi to testify in Epstein probe

Pressure is building in Washington as lawmakers push former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify in a congressional investigation into how the government handled files linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say Bondi is refusing to comply with a subpoena issued last month, accusing her of obstructing Congress’s ability to scrutinize the release of the documents.

“It is shameful that Pam Bondi is still trying to protect powerful men and their connections to Jeffrey Epstein,” they said. “She must come before our committee and answer our questions.”

The Department of Justice has argued that Bondi is no longer required to appear because she was dismissed from her post earlier this month. Lawmakers reject that position, pointing out that a subpoena remains binding regardless of employment status.

“Legally, at the end of the day, if somebody is under subpoena, it doesn’t matter if they change jobs or if they have a job or if they don’t. They’re still expected to appear before the Congress,” said Congressman Robert Garcia.

“If she doesn’t come forward under her legal subpoena — which still stands, by the way — then we will hold Pam Bondi in contempt.”

At the centre of the dispute are the so-called Epstein files, whose release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in November. As attorney general at the time, Bondi oversaw the process, which critics say fell short of the law’s intent due to heavy redactions and withheld material.

The issue has become politically sensitive for the administration of Donald Trump. Trump initially dismissed the controversy as a “hoax” and a “scam”, before backing the legislation that forced the release of the documents.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is now demanding clarity on whether Congress — and the public — were misled. In a joint statement, Representatives Ro Khanna and Nancy Mace said Bondi’s firing does not end her obligations.

“Bondi’s removal as Attorney General doesn’t erase her obligation to testify and does not end Congressional oversight,” they said.

“The American people deserve to know whether Congress was misled and whether information about Jeffrey Epstein and his associates is being withheld. Pam Bondi has answers.”

The broader controversy taps into long-standing concerns about accountability in the Epstein case. Epstein, a financier accused of running an international sex-trafficking operation, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide, but scrutiny over his connections to powerful figures has persisted.

Public opinion reflects that unease. Polling suggests a majority of Americans disapprove of how the Epstein files have been handled, with many suspecting that key information has not been fully disclosed.