Pam Bondi testimony to House panel canceled, Democrats threaten contempt charges

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has canceled her scheduled April 14 testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The appearance was compelled by subpoena and focused on her and the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Bondi’s refusal was justified by the Republican-led committee because “she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General.” The panel said it will now contact her lawyer to discuss next steps for a deposition.

Democrats immediately threatened contempt charges. Ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia stated the subpoena applies to Bondi personally “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 the Congress,” Garcia said. “The survivors deserve justice.”

President Donald Trump fired Bondi on April 2 after reports he was unhappy with her management of the Epstein files.

Bondi and other Trump allies had repeatedly promised full public release of the DOJ documents after Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Instead she reneged, prompting Congress to pass legislation mandating disclosure that Trump signed. The DOJ has since released millions of pages on Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, yet withheld numerous additional documents.

Bondi’s cancellation blocks congressional oversight into the DOJ’s continued handling of the high-profile Epstein case files and evidence.