A dispute between the Justice Department and congressional investigators has intensified after officials said former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a scheduled deposition tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, citing her recent removal from office.
The decision has introduced a new obstacle in an ongoing bipartisan effort to examine how the government handled investigative files related to Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes involving minors.
Bondi had been expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee on April 14 regarding her role in overseeing the release of those files, which lawmakers have scrutinized for delays and errors.
The Justice Department argued that Bondi was subpoenaed strictly in her official capacity as attorney general, a role she no longer holds following her ouster by President Donald Trump.
In a letter to the committee, officials stated that the subpoena no longer compels her appearance and requested its withdrawal.
Despite this position, the committee has indicated it will continue efforts to secure her testimony, including contacting her personal legal counsel to arrange a new deposition date.
The subpoena was approved last month with bipartisan support, reflecting broader concern over the handling of Epstein-related records.
Lawmakers from both parties have pushed back against the department’s stance, insisting that the subpoena applies to Bondi as an individual, regardless of her current title.
Some members have warned that failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings, underscoring the stakes surrounding the investigation.
The committee’s chairman, Representative James Comer, has said he plans to consult colleagues on how to proceed, while noting that enforcement decisions may require legal review.
The dispute comes amid broader scrutiny of Bondi’s tenure, which had already drawn criticism over the management and release of Epstein files.
As congressional pressure builds, the standoff highlights ongoing tensions between legislative oversight efforts and executive branch interpretations of legal obligations.