Pam Bondi Dodges Congressional Testimony on Epstein Files, Faces Contempt Threat

Pam Bondi, once Florida’s top cop and then U.S. Attorney General, is playing hardball with Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bondi was subpoenaed to testify about allegedly missing or heavily redacted documents related to Epstein’s crimes, but she’s now refusing to show up. The Department of Justice says she won’t appear because she’s no longer attorney general, a technical dodge that lawmakers are not accepting.

The House oversight committee insists Bondi was subpoenaed in her personal capacity, not just as a former official, and plans to push for her deposition to be rescheduled. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who spearheaded the subpoena, warned Bondi could be held in contempt of Congress if she continues to stonewall. Top Democrat Robert Garcia echoed that threat, accusing Bondi of trying to evade her legal duty to testify.

This standoff comes amid ongoing frustration over the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents. Bondi had claimed all unclassified files were released as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but survivors and bipartisan politicians say key documents remain hidden or redacted. Last year, Bondi stirred controversy by saying Epstein’s client list was “sitting on my desk,” only for the DOJ to deny its existence and block its release.

Epstein survivors Maria and Annie Farmer condemned the DOJ’s secrecy as a betrayal and demanded Bondi’s sworn testimony to bring accountability. “Until Bondi’s deposition happens and her testimony is given under oath, we will continue asking Congress to use every lever possible to ensure justice is served,” they told Axios.

The broader context is a politically charged fight over transparency and justice for Epstein’s victims. The Trump administration’s reluctance to fully disclose files has fueled suspicion of cover-ups and protection of powerful enablers. Nearly three million pages remain unreleased, supposedly to protect privacy and ongoing investigations, but critics argue this is a smokescreen.

Bondi’s refusal to cooperate not only deepens doubts about the Epstein cover-up but also highlights the limits of accountability for officials who enabled or mishandled the case. Congress faces the challenge of enforcing subpoenas and compelling testimony to finally shed light on the full scope of Epstein’s network and those who shielded it.

The Epstein files saga is far from over, and Pam Bondi’s silence only raises the stakes for those demanding truth and justice.