Bipartisan US lawmakers press former Attorney General Bondi to testify in Epstein files probe

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers pressed former Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday to comply with a congressional subpoena and testify before the House Oversight Committee on the handling of records tied to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Ro Khanna said he will continue working across party lines with congressmen Nancy Mace and Thomas Massie to “seek justice for survivors,” emphasizing that Bondi “must still show up on April 14.”

The push comes after Bondi’s removal as attorney general, which her representatives have cited as grounds for declining a scheduled deposition.

A spokesperson for the Oversight Committee said the Department of Justice indicated Bondi would not appear April 14 because she was subpoenaed in her official capacity.

The committee, however, plans to contact her personal counsel to determine next steps.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member, rejected that argument, stating that Bondi remains legally obligated to comply.

'We will begin contempt charges in Congress'

“Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not,” Garcia said in a statement. "She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in Congress."

Garcia added that failure to appear would result in swift action. “If Pam Bondi doesn’t testify, we will hold her in contempt,” he said.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced the removal of Bondi. According to media reports, Trump was said to be frustrated that Bondi had not done enough to prosecute individuals he views as opponents.

During her tenure, Bondi attracted criticism over a number of issues, including the Justice Department’s handling of the files related to Epstein.

In a formal letter sent Tuesday to Committee Chairman James Comer, Khanna and Mace urged the panel to reaffirm Bondi’s obligation to testify.

The lawmakers argued that her departure from office does not diminish Congress’s oversight authority, particularly as questions remain about the Justice Department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Under the Epstein Transparency Act, which Trump signed into law Nov. 19, Bondi was required to make public Epstein-related files in possession of the Justice Department and the FBI.

“The removal of Pam Bondi as Attorney General does not diminish the Committee’s legitimate oversight interests,” the letter said.

“On the contrary, it makes her sworn testimony even more important.”

Lawmakers also pointed to precedent, noting that the committee has previously subpoenaed former officials from both parties.

"The American people deserve answers about whether Congress was misled and whether information is being withheld by the DOJ," according to the letter.