yahoo news | Pam Bondi to skip scheduled House Oversight deposition in Epstein probe

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for the April 14 deposition before the House Oversight Committee in the probe of Jeffrey Epstein, Scripps News confirmed. A committee spokeswoman said the Department of Justice notified lawmakers that Bondi, who is no longer serving as attorney general, was subpoenaed in her former capacity and therefore will not attend the scheduled hearing.

President Donald Trump removed Bondi from the post last week and named Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. Bondi has long faced bipartisan criticism over the Justice Department’s handling of the “Epstein Files” required to be released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Critics allege that key documents were withheld, that redactions were improperly applied, and that victims’ names were not consistently protected, prompting Bondi to repeatedly defend the department’s approach.

Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia warned that if Bondi does not testify, the committee will pursue contempt charges, emphasizing that the subpoena applies regardless of her current title. “Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not. She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in Congress. The survivors deserve justice,” Garcia said.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/crime/epstein-files/bondi-to-skip-scheduled-house-oversight-deposition-in-epstein-probe

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undefined | Bondi won't appear for House deposition next week in the Epstein investigation by Stephen Groves, Associated Press

The Department of Justice told the House Oversight Committee that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not attend the deposition scheduled for April 14, after she was removed from the position by President Donald Trump. Committee spokeswoman Jessica Collins said the DOJ indicated Bondi was subpoenaed “in her capacity as attorney general,” and because she no longer holds that office she will not appear. The committee plans to reach out to Bondi’s personal counsel to arrange a new date.

Bondi has been under intense scrutiny for the Justice Department’s release of the “Epstein files,” a massive cache of documents related to the late financier’s abuse of under‑age girls. The release was riddled with errors and delayed beyond the deadline set by Congress, prompting a bipartisan subpoena last month. After Trump announced her ouster on April 2, Bondi said she would work “tirelessly to transition the office,” while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche assumed the agency’s top duties on an acting basis, and the DOJ website still listed Bondi as attorney general.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who led the motion to compel Bondi’s appearance, warned that the subpoena was issued “by name, not by title” and that Bondi cannot avoid accountability simply because she is no longer in office. Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia threatened contempt of Congress if she fails to testify, and Republican committee chair Rep. James Comer, who previously enforced subpoenas on high‑profile officials, signaled that the committee will continue to press for her testimony.

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yahoo news | Ousted AG Bondi declines Epstein deposition, but lawmakers say subpoena still...

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was ousted by President Donald Trump last week, will not appear for a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee on April 14 as part of its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department said Bondi was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General and, now that she no longer holds the post, she will not testify. The committee, however, has not withdrawn the subpoena, leaving open the possibility that she could still be required to sit for the deposition.

Democratic members of the panel, along with a few Republicans, pushed back sharply on the DOJ’s explanation. Oversight ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D‑Calif.) warned that Bondi could be held in contempt of Congress if she does not comply, emphasizing that the subpoena is directed to her personally, not to the title she once held. Representatives Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) and Ro Khanna (D‑Calif.) sent a letter to Committee Chairman James Comer asking him to publicly reaffirm Bondi’s legal obligation to testify, arguing that her removal from office does not erase her duty and that her sworn testimony is “even more critical.”

The committee could vote to recommend criminal charges for contempt, though any such measure would require a full‑chamber vote and would ultimately be up to the Justice Department to decide whether to file charges. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to comment on the matter. Bondi joins other former officials, such as ex‑Attorney General Bill Barr and former HHS Secretary Alex Acosta, who have already testified in the broader Epstein probe. The dispute underscores the ongoing partisan and bipartisan tensions surrounding the investigation into Epstein’s alleged ties to the White House and the extent of congressional oversight after an official leaves office.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ousted-ag-bondi-declines-epstein-183532680.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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yahoo news | Pam Bondi Is Now Trying to Duck Out of Testifying About Epstein

Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, is refusing to appear for a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee on April 14. The committee, led by Rep. James Comer (R‑Ky.), issued a statement saying the Department of Justice “has stated Pam Bondi will not appear…since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General.” In a letter obtained by CNN, Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis asked that the subpoena be withdrawn, arguing that Bondi’s former official status no longer obligates her to testify.

Bondi’s earlier appearance before Congress in February was widely criticized; she stumbled over basic questions about the Justice Department’s mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the agency’s failure to comply with the Epstein Transparency Act, and the protection of survivors’ personal information. The fallout from that testimony, combined with President Donald Trump’s recent removal of Bondi from her post, has intensified calls from both parties for her to be held accountable for actions taken while she was attorney general.

In a joint letter, Reps. Ro Khanna (D‑Calif.) and Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) urged the committee to reaffirm that Bondi must appear for a sworn deposition, warning that congressional oversight does not end when an official leaves office. They and other lawmakers, including Rep. Robert Garcia (D‑Calif.), said that failure to comply could result in contempt charges, emphasizing that accountability for the alleged suppression of Epstein‑related evidence remains a priority regardless of Bondi’s current employment status.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/pam-bondi-now-trying-duck-202034058.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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undefined | Former attorney general Pam Bondi will not testify on Epstein files next week, justice department says

Pam Bondi, the former U.S. attorney general, will not appear for the April 14 deposition the House Oversight Committee scheduled to question her about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The department informed the committee that Bondi was “subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” but she was removed from that post by President Donald Trump the week before, leaving her without the authority to comply. Committee staff confirmed to the BBC that Bondi will not testify next week.

Republican member Nancy Mace argued that the subpoena still obliges Bondi to appear, noting that her loss of the attorney‑general title “does not erase her obligation to testify and does not end Congressional oversight.” She urged committee chairman James Comer to publicly reaffirm Bondi’s legal duty to be deposed. Democratic ranking member Robert Garcia echoed this demand, warning that if Bondi defies the subpoena the committee will pursue contempt charges. Bondi has not issued a statement on the matter.

The subpoena, issued earlier this year, sought answers about possible mismanagement of the Justice Department’s probe into Epstein and the release of related documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers have pressed for full disclosure of the millions of files the agency released, after criticism that some survivor information was redacted and that non‑victim identities were protected. The committee has already secured testimony from high‑profile figures such as the Clintons and has scheduled Bill Gates to testify in June, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expected to appear soon.

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undefined | Bondi won't testify next week in House Epstein probe; lawmakers push to reschedule by Kyle Stewart, Ryan J. Reilly, Dareh Gregorian

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear before the House Oversight Committee for the deposition scheduled on April 14, the Justice Department told lawmakers. In a letter to Oversight Chair James Comer, DOJ assistant attorney general Patrick Davis explained that because Bondi is no longer serving in her official capacity, the subpoena “no longer obligates her to appear.” A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the subpoena was issued in her capacity as Attorney General and, due to the leadership transition, “no longer applies.” The committee’s statement said it will still pursue a new date for her testimony, and the panel’s Democratic members warned that if Bondi defies a re‑issued subpoena they will seek contempt charges.

Five Republicans on the committee voted with Democrats to subpoena Bondi in order to question her about the department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including a July memo that halted further charges and the agency’s failure to turn over all files to Congress. Lawmakers are also pressing the DOJ to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act—legislation co‑authored by Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie—that requires public release of the files while protecting victims’ identities. Critics allege that the Justice Department continues to withhold material and redact information about possible Epstein accomplices, prompting renewed calls for accountability.

Committee members, including Rep. Khanna and Rep. Nancy Mace, issued a public letter urging Comer to confirm that Bondi will still be required to sit for a sworn deposition, arguing that “Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of Attorney General.” Survivors’ families, such as Sky and Amanda Roberts, expressed frustration over the delay but affirmed they will wait for her testimony. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to intervene, stating he would leave the scheduling to Chairman Comer, while the White House’s recent removal of Bondi remains shrouded in uncertainty.

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yahoo news | 'Curious excuse' flagged as Bondi threatened with contempt for dodging Epstein...

A new report flagged the “curious excuse” used by ousted former Attorney General Pam Bondi to blow off a scheduled deposition over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The former attorney general, fired last month, is now using her termination as justification to skip an April 14 deposition with the House Oversight Committee investigating the government’s Epstein files. The Justice Department told the panel Bondi no longer has to appear since she was subpoenaed “in her capacity as attorney general” — a claim HuffPost called a “curious excuse,” noting that every recent former attorney general has cooperated with the same committee, even Bill Barr, who sat for a transcribed interview.

Bipartisan fury was immediate. Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑SC) minced no words: “Leaving office doesn’t mean you get to dodge accountability. Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title, and because the DOJ stonewalled Congress and refused to follow the law, she needs to appear before the Oversight Committee and answer for it.” Mace threatened contempt proceedings if Bondi fails to show. “She promised she would comply,” added Mace. “April 14 is her chance to prove it. Chairman Comer must make one thing clear: show up or face contempt.”

Bondi’s series of Epstein‑related failures put her on the hot seat, including her claim that a “client list” was sitting on her desk—a claim her own DOJ later flatly contradicted. Her Justice Department also missed statutory deadlines to release Epstein files, admitted to improper redactions, and withheld documents.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/pam-bondi-epstein-2676681566/

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