Pam Bondi subpoenaed over Epstein files release by House committee

Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, has been formally subpoenaed to appear before a House panel to answer questions about the justice department’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and its release of the Epstein files.The move came amid growing criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over the justice department’s compliance with a law passed last year requiring the full release of Epstein-related files.Lawmakers have raised concerns that some disclosures exposed personal information about survivors, and have also accused the Department of Justice of improperly withholding and redacting material in violation of the law, including the names of people who may have committed crimes.James Comer, chair of the House oversight and government reform committee, wrote in the subpoena letter that there were “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, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, added: “As Attorney General, you are directly responsible for overseeing the Department’s collection, review, and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the Committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts.”The subpoena has requested that Bondi appear for a deposition on 14 April.It follows a 4 March vote in which five Republicans on the committee joined Democrats to approve a motion, put forward by Nancy Mace, a Republican representative of South Carolina, to authorize and issue a subpoena to Bondi.In February, Bondi clashed with Democratic lawmakers during a House judiciary committee hearing, where she defended the justice department’s handling of the Epstein files.In a statement to the Guardian on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the justice department 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 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.”Comer also said on Tuesday that, separately, Bondi and Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, are set to provide members of the House committee on oversight and government reform a private briefing this Wednesday.In a statement on Tuesday, Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, accused Bondi of leading a “White House cover-up that has concealed the full Epstein files while ignoring both the Oversight Committee’s subpoena and the Epstein Files Transparency Act”.“The Department of Justice has repeatedly exposed survivors while protecting the names of powerful individuals involved in Epstein’s crimes,” he said. “Thanks to united Oversight Committee Democrats, along with the support of several Republicans, the Attorney General will now appear before our committee under oath. No more lies. No more distractions. We want the truth – and justice for the survivors.”