Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will no longer testify regarding the Epstein Files, following her dismissal from President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month. A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee confirmed on 8 April that Bondi, 60, is not expected to fulfil her scheduled deposition, which was set for 14 April. This change comes as she was subpoenaed in her previous capacity as Attorney General.
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Bondi’s removal from her position, which occurred on 2 April, led to her replacement by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Initially, the committee had voted on a bipartisan basis to compel Bondi to provide testimony concerning the Epstein investigation. However, with her departure from the role, the Department of Justice has indicated that she will not participate in the proceedings.
The subpoena issued by House Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer aimed to ensure Bondi’s testimony amid ongoing concerns about the handling of the Epstein Files. This trove of evidence relates to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 child sex-trafficking case, which has drawn significant scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum. Lawmakers have expressed frustration over the perceived lack of transparency and completeness in the documentation provided by the Department of Justice.
Leading the push for Bondi’s testimony was South Carolina Senator Nancy Mace, who highlighted the challenges faced in obtaining comprehensive records. Following the vote to subpoena her, Mace stated, “There are over 65,000 documents missing, and we know there are more than 2,000 videos that are out there.” Mace characterised the lack of cooperation as obstructionist and emphasised the need for accountability and transparency from the Attorney General’s office.
Mace did not shy away from publicly celebrating Bondi’s firing on social media, criticising her management of the Epstein Files. She expressed that Bondi’s actions had steadily eroded confidence in the Trump administration’s commitment to accountability, insisting on the necessity for an Attorney General committed to transparency. “She has stonewalled every effort to hold the guilty accountable,” Mace tweeted, illustrating her dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of critical evidence.
Bondi’s tenure was marked by ongoing criticism regarding how the Trump administration addressed the Epstein Files, which were a significant talking point during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Despite promises from Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to release further documents, significant portions were made public in heavily redacted form. This has led some lawmakers to suspect that the administration was trying to shield influential individuals mentioned within the documents.
Representative Jamie Raskin from Maryland, who has been one of the few lawmakers granted access to unredacted versions of the files, echoed concerns that the Department of Justice has been withholding information to protect powerful figures. He stated in February, “I think that the Department of Justice has been in a cover-up mode for many months and has been trying to sweep the entire thing under the rug.”
Following Bondi’s exit from her role, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche took over responsibilities. Blanche’s first public address on 7 April raised eyebrows, as he noted that the circumstances surrounding Bondi’s removal remain unclear to him, apart from the involvement of President Trump in the decision-making process. His comments indicate a continuing atmosphere of uncertainty and contention within the Trump administration regarding how the Epstein case has been managed.
As the situation evolves, the House Oversight Committee plans to reach out to Bondi’s personal counsel regarding alternative arrangements for her deposition, although her capacity to testify is now questionable given her recent dismissal. The fallout from this episode demonstrates the complexities and intertwining of politics, accountability, and public trust, especially in high-profile cases such as that of Jeffrey Epstein.