Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify before the House Oversight Committee next month as part of the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and the handling of related Justice Department records.
The announcement came on Wednesday morning, shortly after House Democrats moved to hold Bondi in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena earlier this month.
“We’re also tracking more breaking news on Capitol Hill, where moments after House Democrats announced plans to try to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress… a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee announced Bondi will appear after all,” MSNBC anchor Ana Cabrera reported.
Capitol Hill reporter Mychael Schnell said the key takeaway is that Bondi will now testify “behind closed doors under oath before the House Oversight Committee on May 29th,” following weeks of dispute over whether she was required to comply with the subpoena.
The committee originally voted in March to subpoena Bondi in a bipartisan move, with five Republicans joining Democrats. She was scheduled to appear on April 14, but did not testify after being removed from her post as attorney general.
The Justice Department argued that Bondi was no longer obligated to comply, claiming the subpoena applied to her official role. Lawmakers from both parties disputed that interpretation, maintaining she was subpoenaed in her personal capacity.
“That then raised questions about whether or not she would still have to appear,” Schnell explained. “Democrats and some Republicans on the panel said that is false.”
Following weeks of negotiations, Bondi agreed to testify.
Democrats said the threat of contempt proceedings played a role.
“Clearly we’re being effective,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the committee’s ranking member.
Garcia had previously criticized Bondi, saying, “Pam Bondi has illegally defied our committee, skipped her deposition, and has refused to cooperate.”
Lawmakers are expected to question Bondi extensively about the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related documents, including controversial redactions and concerns about transparency.
Members have raised questions about “the redactions, why names of rich and powerful individuals were redacted and information pertaining to victims was let out for the public to see,” Schnell noted, as well as whether the full scope of records has been released.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, requiring the release of Justice Department records related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The DOJ has since released roughly 3 million pages—about half of its files—while withholding others to protect victims’ identities and avoid compromising ongoing investigations.
Bondi’s testimony will be part of a broader effort by the Oversight Committee to interview key figures connected to the case. Previous witnesses have included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and businessman Les Wexner. (RELATED: Clintons Defy Congressional Jeffrey Epstein Probe Subpoena)
Looking ahead, lawmakers are also seeking testimony from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who helped oversee the handling of the Epstein files.
“Todd Blanche is at the top of our list,” Garcia said. “What are they hiding? What are they covering up?”
The May 29 deposition is expected to mark a significant step in the committee’s months-long effort to scrutinize the federal government’s handling of one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent history.
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