Bondi Dodges Epstein Testimony After Getting Fired, DOJ Claims Subpoena No Longer Applies

Pam Bondi was subpoenaed to testify under oath about the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Now that Trump has fired her, DOJ is claiming she doesn't have to show up.

The Justice Department informed the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that Bondi will not appear for her scheduled April 14 deposition, arguing that because she's no longer Attorney General, the subpoena issued to her in that official capacity no longer applies. It's a convenient technicality that lets her dodge questions about one of the most explosive cover-ups in recent memory.

"Because Ms. Bondi no longer can testify in her official capacity as Attorney General, the Department's position is that the subpoena no longer obligates her to appear on April 14," wrote Patrick Davis, DOJ's assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, in a letter to committee chair James Comer.

Bipartisan Pushback

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle aren't buying it.

"Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not," said Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee's top Democrat. "She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress. The survivors deserve justice."

Rep. Nancy Mace, the Republican who first moved to subpoena Bondi, was equally blunt: "Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of Attorney General."

Five Republicans voted with Democrats to issue the subpoena, a rare show of bipartisan unity on a committee that typically splits along party lines. The fact that Bondi's removal came just days before her scheduled testimony has raised eyebrows about the timing.

What Lawmakers Want to Know

The committee has been investigating DOJ's handling of the Epstein case for months, and they have a long list of questions for Bondi.

Chief among them is a July 2023 memo in which the department announced it would charge no additional people in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking operation and would release no further information about the case. That decision effectively shut down public accountability for anyone who may have enabled or participated in Epstein's crimes.

Lawmakers also want to know why DOJ defied a congressional subpoena demanding the full Epstein files. That stonewalling led to the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan legislation requiring DOJ to release the documents publicly.

Even after that law passed, DOJ has continued to withhold files and has failed to properly redact victim identities while simultaneously blacking out information about potential Epstein accomplices. Survivors and their families have accused the department of protecting powerful people at the expense of transparency and justice.

The Cover-Up Continues

"The cover-up continues, but we will fight for accountability," Rep. Ro Khanna wrote on X after learning of the postponement.

Bondi's current status at DOJ is murky. After Trump announced her removal last week, she said she would stay on for a month to help acting Attorney General Todd Blanche with the transition. But her official title and responsibilities remain unclear.

When asked at a press conference whether he would block Bondi's testimony, Blanche punted: "I will leave it to Chairman Comer to work out with others. I just don't have an answer for you."

Blanche also claimed that no one knows why Trump removed Bondi, "except for President Trump." That's hard to square with reports that Bondi was under pressure to bring politically motivated cases against Trump's enemies and resisted doing so.

Survivors Are Waiting

Family members of late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre made clear they're not going anywhere.

"Once again, the Department of Justice is splitting hairs," Sky and Amanda Roberts said in a statement. "Regardless of how you cut it, former Attorney General Pam Bondi has been subpoenaed and must testify before the House subcommittee. Survivors are standing by. We are not going anywhere."

The Oversight Committee says it will contact Bondi's personal attorney to reschedule the deposition. Whether she actually shows up, and whether DOJ tries to block her testimony by claiming executive privilege or some other legal shield, remains to be seen.

What's clear is that the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein case has been marked by obstruction, secrecy, and an apparent determination to protect powerful people from scrutiny. Bondi oversaw that effort for months. If she has nothing to hide, she should have no problem answering questions under oath.