Pam Bondi is dodging a congressional subpoena to testify about her handling of the Epstein files, claiming she no longer has to answer questions now that she's stepped down as attorney general.
The Justice Department said Bondi will skip her scheduled appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on April 14. Officials argued the subpoena targeted her in her capacity as AG, a role she no longer holds after being ousted earlier this month.
Democrats on the panel are furious. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat, accused Bondi of "trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify" and signaled the committee may seek a contempt citation. Such a move would require backing from at least three Republicans and a full House vote.
Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican who helped push for the subpoena, fired back on social media, saying Bondi "will still have to appear before the Oversight Committee for a sworn deposition." The committee plans to contact Bondi's personal attorney about next steps.
The tension reflects deep frustration across both parties over how federal authorities managed the Epstein case. Lawmakers view Bondi's testimony as critical to a months-long investigation into what they see as departmental failures.
Last month's closed-door briefing with Bondi ended poorly. Democratic members walked out, complaining she refused to answer substantive questions or commit to sworn testimony. The committee voted on a bipartisan basis to subpoena her at that time, with Mace and Democratic members joined by four Republican colleagues: Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Michael Cloud of Texas, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, was noncommittal when asked previously about pursuing contempt charges, saying only that "we'll talk about it."
Whether the committee has legal ground to compel Bondi's appearance after she left office remains uncertain, but the dispute signals the panel is not backing down from its push for answers on how the Justice Department handled Epstein-related materials.
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