Robert Garcia Forces Pam Bondi to Testify on Epstein Files After Contempt Threat

In a rare win for congressional oversight, House Democrats have forced former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s delayed and heavily redacted release of Jeffrey Epstein files. The breakthrough came after Bondi defied a subpoena and skipped a scheduled deposition on April 14, prompting Democrats to file a civil contempt resolution against her.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced the contempt filing at the Capitol Wednesday. “Pam Bondi has illegally defied our committee, skipped her deposition, and has refused to cooperate,” Garcia said. He accused Bondi of helping shield politically damaging information related to Epstein — a convicted sex offender whose case has been shrouded in secrecy and controversy.

The committee’s investigation targets the Justice Department’s handling of millions of pages of Epstein-related records, which have been released with extensive redactions and delays. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed alarm over the department’s failure to provide timely and transparent disclosures, including the accidental release of some victims’ identifying information.

Bondi was originally subpoenaed to testify about her role in the department’s decisions while she was attorney general under the Trump administration. But after President Trump fired her earlier this month, the Justice Department argued she was no longer obligated to appear, claiming the subpoena applied only to her official capacity. Democrats rejected that excuse, emphasizing that Bondi’s personal knowledge of the department’s actions made her testimony essential regardless of her job title.

Just hours after Garcia announced the contempt filing, committee Republicans reversed course and confirmed Bondi will appear for a closed-door deposition on May 29. A Republican spokesperson told ABC News, “Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing on May 29.” Garcia framed this reversal as proof that public pressure and aggressive oversight tactics can force accountability. “Clearly we’re being effective,” he said. “Only when we take action and when we actually have to force Republicans to do anything … do they actually ever do anything.”

This showdown underscores the ongoing struggle to hold powerful figures accountable for the Epstein scandal and the Trump administration’s efforts to obscure the full truth. Bondi’s testimony could shed light on whether political considerations influenced the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein’s crimes and the information released to the public.

Only Clowns Are Orange will continue to track this story as it develops, spotlighting the fight for transparency and justice amid ongoing attempts to hide uncomfortable truths.