Former attorney general Pam Bondi will appear before the House oversight and government reform committee on May 29, but only after Democrats filed a civil contempt resolution against her for skipping a scheduled deposition earlier this month.
The appearance comes as the panel investigates how the Justice Department handled the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi was subpoenaed while still serving as attorney general, tasked with answering questions about the department's management of sensitive materials related to the disgraced financier.
When Trump removed Bondi from office earlier this month, the Justice Department claimed the subpoena no longer applied since it had been issued in her official capacity. In a letter to committee chairman James Comer, assistant attorney general Patrick Davis argued that Bondi's departure meant she no longer had an obligation to testify.
Democrats rejected that reasoning. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said Bondi had "illegally defied" the panel and "refused to cooperate." He emphasized that her extensive knowledge of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files made her testimony essential regardless of her current job title.
The Justice Department's handling of the Epstein documents has drawn sustained criticism. The agency missed a December 19 deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act and instead released what it claimed were complete files on January 31. Survivors of Epstein's abuse have raised concerns that sensitive personal information was improperly disclosed in the release, while lawmakers have objected to certain redactions in the documents. The department has maintained its actions complied with the law.
The timing of Bondi's announced appearance raised eyebrows among Democrats. The oversight committee's Republican leadership announced the May 29 date within 45 minutes of Democrats filing contempt charges, prompting Oversight Democrats to post on social media: "Well look at this... 45 minutes after we file contempt charges against Pam Bondi for defying her subpoena to testify, @GOPoversight finally announces a date for her appearance."
A spokesperson for the oversight committee characterized the contempt action as "completely unnecessary," noting that Bondi would now appear as scheduled. The rapid reversal suggested the threat of formal contempt proceedings was effective in breaking the standoff over her testimony.
Author James Rodriguez: "The sudden scheduling of Bondi's appearance after contempt charges were filed reveals how much leverage Congress actually has when it shows willingness to use it."
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