House Oversight Committee votes to subpoena Bondi over handling of Epstein investigation
In a bipartisan vote on Wednesday, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify in a closed-door deposition in front of the committee as part of its probe into the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for Bondi's testimony for months after the Department of Justice missed the deadline to release the Epstein files by 42 days. While DOJ released more than 3 million files earlier this year, committee investigators estimate that total accounts for only half of the files in the department's custody.
There has also been bipartisan consternation that the documents that were ultimately released did not protect each survivor's identity and that DOJ released sensitive photographs in violation of the Epstein Transparency Act, which called for redactions of that material. On the other hand, the Department of Justice redacted the names of several people who are not survivors -- incensing not only members of Congress but also survivors of Epstein's crimes who charge that the administration is engaged in a cover-up.
"The American public have significant questions about the DOJ and their process for releasing of the files," Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said during debate on the motion. "I think the attorney general has gone to speak, obviously, to other committees. I think it's important that she is in front of our committee. She can directly answer questions about the release of the files, about transparency, about ensuring that victims and survivors are protected."
The motion, which passed 24-19, was offered by South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who once again bucked President Donald Trump and Republican leaders after signing a discharge petition last fall to force the consideration of the Epstein Transparency Act. Four other Republicans -- Reps. Lauren Boebert, Tim Burchett, Michael Cloud and Scott Perry -- voted with Democrats to pass the motion.
A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
As the committee prepared to debate Mace's motion, Oversight Chairman James Comer informed the committee that Bondi had agreed to give members a private briefing on the status of the Epstein documents. That offer was not enough to satisfy the coalition of lawmakers who supported the motion to subpoena Bondi.
California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna, co-sponsor of the Epstein Transparency Act, commended Mace and emphasized the bipartisan nature of the motion.
"It's about transparency. It has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican. It's about going after predators and people who are sexually harassing," Khanna said.
Lawmakers have also questioned who approved the transfer of Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum security prison in Texas days after she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Last month, Bondi told the House Judiciary Committee that she did not personally approve the transfer.
No date has been set yet for Bondi's deposition.
On Tuesday, Comer sent letters to seven other individuals with ties to Epstein, including billionaire Bill Gates and former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, requesting transcribed interviews in the coming months as part of the panel's investigation. The committee is also expected to interview Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at a closed-door deposition later this month.
