House Oversight subpoenas AG Bondi in probe of Epstein case 'mismanagement'
· Fox News
The House Oversight Committee has formally issued a subpoena compelling Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify in a deposition as part of its investigation into the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
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Separately, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche have offered to provide committee members with a private briefing Wednesday.
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued the subpoena for Bondi to testify on "possible mismanagement of the federal government's investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell," the cover letter for the subpoena released Tuesday read.
The committee voted earlier this month authorizing the move. Bondi is ordered to appear for a deposition April 14.
"The Committee has questions regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act," Comer wrote, adding that Bondi is "directly responsible" for overseeing the review and release of related records.
A Justice Department spokesperson called the subpoena "completely unnecessary."
"Lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files for themselves at the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress," the DOJ spokesperson said. "She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow. As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts."
The committee indicated the probe could lead to legislative changes aimed at strengthening federal anti-trafficking efforts and reforming the use of non-prosecution and plea agreements in sex-crime cases.
Comer also underscored the panel’s authority to compel testimony, noting it has broad jurisdiction to investigate "any matter" and can require witness participation and document production as necessary.
Notably, the investigations of Epstein have spanned decades since former President George W. Bush's administration, through the two terms of President Barack Obama and the first President Donald Trump term. Trump has long noted to critics, he was the president that brought Epstein to justice.
READ THE SUBPOENA COVER LETTER – APP USERS, CLICK HERE
The prosecution of Maxwell came during former President Joe Biden's administration, but Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last November that has led to a bevy of scrutiny on the DOJ's handling. Critics have rebuked Bondi and Blanche's slow drip of the documents, which they have publicly contended has been necessary due to concerns over victim protections and the massive volume of the Epstein files.
Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this report.