Recommendations of the Editorial team
Pam Bondi withdraws from a scheduled hearing before the House Oversight Committee – the committee that wanted to question the Justice Minister, who has since been replaced, about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files.
The Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), said in a statement that “the Justice Department has advised that Pam Bondi will not appear for a hearing on April 14 because she is no longer attorney general and the subpoena concerns her in her capacity as attorney general.”
The committee also said it would “contact Pam Bondi’s personal attorney to discuss further steps in scheduling her hearing.”
Bondi replaced by Trump
President Donald Trump announced last week that he had removed Bondi from office. She bore the brunt of the fallout after the government failed miserably to keep much of the evidence surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein out of the public eye.
In a letter to the committee obtained by CNN, Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis said, “Bondi no longer holds this office. Because Ms. Bondi can therefore no longer testify in her official capacity as Attorney General, the Department is of the opinion that the subpoena no longer requires her to appear on April 14. We kindly request confirmation that the subpoena is withdrawn.”
Bondi’s appearance before Congress in February was a complete disaster. She was unable to answer basic questions about the handling of the files – neither the department’s refusal to comply with much of the Epstein Transparency Act nor the careless handling of sensitive information about survivors and their personal data. At one point, Bondi lashed out at lawmakers for focusing on Trump’s attempts to bury the Epstein scandal instead of the booming stock market.
Bipartisan for coercion
Given Bondi’s recent appearance, it is hardly surprising that Republicans and Democrats alike are insisting that she must testify regardless of her changing employment situation. In a joint letter to Committee Chairman Comer, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) stated: “Removing Pam Bondi as Attorney General does not diminish the Committee’s legitimate oversight interest in her deposition nor the need for accountability and education about the files withheld by the DOJ. In fact, it makes her deposition even more important – particularly in light of actions she took as Attorney General.” investigations already underway and decisions made under her leadership.”
“As you know, Congress’s oversight power does not end when an official leaves office,” the two representatives reminded Comer, “we ask you to publicly affirm that Pam Bondi must appear at a sworn hearing on April 14 as ordered or face the appropriate consequences if she refuses to do so.”
In a separate social media post, Mace wrote that Bondi should not be allowed to “evade responsibility” and would face contempt of Congress proceedings if she fails to comply with the subpoena. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, also reiterated that if Bondi is in contempt of the committee, “we will initiate a contempt process in Congress.”
