Bondi Dodges Epstein Testimony as Democrats Move to Force War Powers Vote

The Justice Department informed the House Oversight Committee that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear next week to answer questions about how the department handled the Jeffrey Epstein case. The move shields Bondi from congressional scrutiny over one of the most explosive corruption and accountability issues of the Trump era.

The refusal comes as the administration faces mounting pressure over Trump's extreme rhetoric toward Iran, including threats to destroy "a whole civilization." Dozens of congressional Democrats yesterday called for Trump's removal from office following those remarks, though the U.S. and Iran agreed hours later to a two-week ceasefire.

Democrats Force War Powers Showdown

Senate Democrats announced today they will force a vote next week on a war powers resolution to halt military operations in Iran and require congressional approval for future military action. The resolution, led by Sens. Tim Kaine, Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, Adam Schiff, Tammy Baldwin, and Tammy Duckworth, directly challenges Trump's unilateral approach to military engagement.

"This temporary ceasefire agreement -- which is already being violated -- starts a very short clock for Congress to finally end this unprecedented chaos," the senators wrote in a letter. "Absent immediate steps by Republican leadership to stand up to Trump's increasingly erratic behavior, we will once again force a vote on a War Powers Resolution to finally end this dangerous war in the Middle East."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed the effort, telling reporters that "Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment. No president, Democrat or Republican, should take this country to war alone."

The resolution requires a simple majority to pass, meaning Democrats need Republican support. Previous war powers resolutions in the Republican-led Senate have failed largely along party lines. House Democrats plan to attempt a similar vote during a pro forma session tomorrow.

California Sheriff's Voter Fraud Investigation Halted

The California Supreme Court today ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to pause his investigation into alleged fraud in last year's special election. Bianco, a Republican running for governor, seized more than 650,000 ballots from election officials last month, claiming he was investigating potential fraud after a group of citizens conducted their own "audit" of results.

"To permit further consideration of this petition for review, real parties, their agents, employees, and anyone acting on their behalf are hereby ordered to pause the investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve all seized items," the court wrote.

The special election involved a ballot question about a new Democratic-drawn congressional map. Bianco's seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots represents one of the most aggressive attempts by a local law enforcement official to interfere with election administration in recent memory.

Pirro Deflects Attorney General Speculation

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro addressed speculation about who Trump wants as the next attorney general, telling reporters she's focused on her current role overseeing both federal and local criminal prosecutions in D.C.

"I am here because the president asked me to be here," Pirro said. "I came here not only for the federal crime, but for the street crime. I'm back at my roots. I'm doing what I know best, and I'm doing what I love."

Pirro also announced her office plans to appeal Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's decision to block subpoenas of the Federal Reserve System. Last week, Boasberg denied a motion for reconsideration of his original order.

Court Requires Notice Before 'Independence Arch' Construction

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the Trump administration to give 14 days' notice before beginning construction on a planned "Independence Arch" in Memorial Circle. Chutkan also ordered the National Park Service not to authorize construction unless it first publishes a notice of authorization.

The order represents another legal check on the administration's ability to unilaterally alter federal property and public spaces.

Special Election Results

Republicans padded their slim House majority with a special election win in Georgia yesterday, though by a closer-than-anticipated margin that NBC News analyst Steve Kornacki described as showing a "massive shift away from Republicans." Meanwhile, liberals in Wisconsin expanded their majority on the state Supreme Court, NBC News projects.