Pam Bondi Refuses Epstein Deposition After Ouster, But Subpoena Remains in Play

Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General recently ousted by President Donald Trump, is refusing to appear for a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network. The Justice Department, citing Bondi’s departure from office, says she will not comply with the April 14 deposition subpoena, arguing her subpoena was issued in her official capacity as Attorney General.

But Democrats on the committee are not buying that excuse. Ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) slammed Bondi’s move as a blatant attempt to evade accountability for her role in the Epstein cover-up. “Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not,” Garcia said, signaling a potential contempt of Congress referral should she continue to defy the subpoena.

Bondi’s ouster last week came amid bipartisan scrutiny over her handling of the Epstein files, raising fresh questions about the Trump administration’s efforts to shield powerful enablers of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. The House Oversight Committee, which includes Republicans who crossed party lines to subpoena Bondi, has made clear that congressional oversight does not end when officials leave office.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) jointly urged committee Chairman James Comer to publicly reaffirm Bondi’s legal obligation to testify, emphasizing that the subpoena targets Bondi personally, not just her former title. “Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title,” Mace stressed.

The Justice Department’s acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to comment on whether Bondi should comply, leaving the legal showdown unresolved. The committee could recommend criminal charges for contempt, but any prosecution would ultimately depend on the DOJ’s willingness to act.

Bondi’s refusal to testify adds to the growing list of Trump-era officials facing congressional scrutiny over Epstein-related cover-ups. Former Attorney General Bill Barr and ex-Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Acosta have already testified, but Bondi’s defiance threatens to deepen the standoff between Congress and the Trump Justice Department.

As the Epstein investigation unfolds, Bondi’s stonewalling underscores the ongoing battle for transparency and accountability in an administration repeatedly accused of shielding the powerful at the expense of justice. The Oversight Committee’s next moves could set a crucial precedent for holding former officials responsible — even after they leave office.