Pam Bondi Dodges House Testimony on Epstein Files After Trump Fires Her

Pam Bondi, the former attorney general who oversaw the Justice Department’s release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will not appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next week as scheduled. DOJ officials informed the committee on Wednesday that Bondi’s subpoena should be withdrawn because she no longer holds the office from which she was subpoenaed, having been fired by President Donald Trump last week.

The committee had subpoenaed Bondi after bipartisan frustration grew over the Justice Department’s slow and incomplete disclosure of millions of pages of Epstein-related documents. Lawmakers criticized the department for missing deadlines, failing to fully protect victims’ identities, and redacting information that could implicate powerful people connected to Epstein’s trafficking network. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019, but the fallout from his case continues to roil Washington.

Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis wrote to committee chairman James Comer (R-Kentucky) requesting confirmation that the subpoena is withdrawn, arguing that Bondi’s subpoena was tied to her official capacity as attorney general.

But House Republicans and Democrats alike are not backing down. The Oversight Committee plans to pursue Bondi’s testimony through her personal counsel. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) and Ro Khanna (D-California) emphasized that Bondi’s removal from office only heightens the need for her sworn testimony, calling it crucial for accountability and full disclosure of withheld documents.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, warned that if Bondi continues to defy the subpoena, the committee will initiate contempt proceedings. “The survivors deserve justice,” Garcia said bluntly.

Bondi’s firing reportedly stemmed in part from President Trump’s frustration with the Epstein files controversy, which has repeatedly spotlighted the administration’s mishandling of sensitive investigations. Despite her defense of the Justice Department’s efforts in prior congressional hearings, Bondi now faces intensified scrutiny as lawmakers push to pierce the veil of secrecy around Epstein’s powerful enablers.

A Justice Department spokesperson stated the agency remains committed to cooperating with the committee. Bondi has not responded to requests for comment.

This latest standoff underscores the persistent challenges Congress faces in holding Trump administration officials accountable for transparency failures in one of the most notorious sex trafficking cases in recent history. The fight for justice for Epstein’s survivors continues, with no signs of letting up.