Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said Wednesday that they will try to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi and others who fail to show up for Epstein depositions in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena to appear before the panel.
Bondi was subpoenaed in early April to be deposed as part of the committee’s investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein files, but did not comply because she was fired by President Donald Trump and therefore could not testify in her official capacity as attorney general.
The oversight committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), told reporters Wednesday that Democrats on the panel will try to hold Bondi in contempt for not showing up for her deposition, which was meant to be on April 14.
Garcia said he and his colleagues have received “zero communication” from Bondi, the Justice Department, or Republicans on the panel regarding the former attorney general’s attendance.
The Oversight Democrats’ X account posted a statement that said the group has introduced a contempt resolution.
“Bondi has extensive knowledge about the Trump Administration’s handling of the Epstein files, and regardless of her job title, her testimony and cooperation are crucial,” the statement said. “Oversight Democrats are taking the lead on holding Bondi in contempt because Chairman [James] Comer is trying to run out the clock, and we refuse to let this Administration stop our investigation.”
House Oversight Republicans responded to a statement put out by oversight Democrats, condemning their statement on Bondi as “theater and completely unnecessary.”
In a post on X, oversight Republicans said Bondi will appear before the panel on May 29.
Bondi’s subpoena was approved in March following a push headed by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), with support from four Republicans and all the Democrats on the investigative panel.
In her final weeks as attorney general, Bondi testified before Congress and acknowledged her mistakes in handling the release of the Epstein files, and her tenure was stained by the DOJ not pursuing additional prosecutions of alleged associates.
Garcia, who is viewed as the top option to chair the committee if Democrats take control of the House in the midterm elections, also told Bloomberg Government he plans to subpoena several former and current high-ranking GOP figures if the general election in November turns in his party’s favor.
White House adviser Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and her former associate, Corey Lewandowski, were on Garcia’s list of possible subpoenas if Democrats retake the House.
Garcia also said his “aggressive agenda” would include continuing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, and what he called “Trump family corruption,” and corporations’ misconduct. The California Democrat named dropped Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a possible subpoena for his investments and role in the administration.
FBI Director Kash Patel and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche were also named among Garcia’s potential targets.
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Trump has previously said that Democrats would impeach him a third time if they regain control of one or both chambers of Congress, but Garcia’s investigative agenda points to a different plan: targeting Trump via his cabinet.
“I’m much more interested in stopping and reversing the Trump agenda than immediately launching an impeachment that will not pass in the Senate,” Garcia told Bloomberg Government.