U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman announces indictment against Jeffrey Epstein on July 8, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
U.S. Justice Department officials were scheduled to brief members of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday about the widely criticized investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s years-long sexual misconduct, a day after the committee formally sent a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi requiring her to testify.
The subpoena, issued pursuant to a resolution adopted by the committee on March 4, calls for Bondi to appear under oath on April 14.
The testimony comes in the context of the committee’s review of the DOJ’s “potential mismanagement” of its investigations into Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged sex trafficking operation the two ran and Epstein’s death in federal custody, according to a statement Public cover letter Accompanies the summons.
Tuesday’s letter said the panel, chaired by Republican James Comer of Kentucky, questioned the department’s compliance with a law passed last year that requires the disclosure of materials related to the Epstein investigation.
“As Attorney General, you are directly responsible for overseeing the Department’s collection, review, and decision-making regarding the release of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the Committee therefore believes that you have valuable insight into these efforts,” the letter said.
Most Republicans on the committee, including Comer, voted against the motion to issue the subpoena. But Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Michael Cloud of Texas, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Tim Burchett of Tennessee joined all Oversight Committee Democrats in voting to approve the request.
In a statement Tuesday, the committee’s ranking Democrat, Robert Garcia of California, expressed frustration and said Bondi “continues to lead a White House cover-up” and has ignored the law and a previous subpoena.
“Thanks to the united Democrats of the Oversight Committee and the support of several Republicans, the Attorney General will now appear under oath before our committee. No more lies. No more distractions. We want the truth – and justice for the survivors,” Garcia said.
Subpoena ‘unnecessary,’ DOJ says
A Justice Department spokesman said in a statement Tuesday that the subpoena was “completely unnecessary,” citing the briefing scheduled for Wednesday.
“Lawmakers were invited to view the unredacted files themselves at the Justice Department, and the attorney general has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress,” said the spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified. “She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the department has offered to brief the committee.”
Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were scheduled to lead the briefing, according to a statement from Comer.
The DOJ spokesman did not respond to a request for further details about Wednesday’s briefing, which was scheduled for overdue afternoon.
Connection to presidents
The federal investigation into Epstein, a convicted sex offender in Florida who was accused of running a sprawling sex trafficking ring involving underage girls, was politically fraught from the start because the influential financier had ties to members of both parties.
President Donald Trump maintained a close friendship with Epstein until a falling out shortly before he entered politics.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised to promptly release documents related to the federal investigation into his former friend, but his Justice Department was snail-paced to release investigative materials after he took office.
This led to bipartisan frustration in Congress, which passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last year.
The law required the DOJ to turn over nearly all records related to its investigation.
The first batch contained photos of Epstein with Democratic former President Bill Clinton. The couple took trips together related to Clinton’s post-presidency philanthropic efforts.
