Republicans Revolt Against Pam Bondi, Approve Subpoena for Missing Epstein Documents

WASHINGTON — A significant shift occurred within the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday as members voted to subpoena U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Justice Department's failure to disclose records linked to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The resolution, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), passed with a 24-19 vote, garnering support from five Republicans alongside all Democrats.

Mace emphasized the importance of the subpoena, stating it would compel Bondi to participate in a closed-door deposition. “Over 65,000 documents missing, and we know there are more than 2,000 videos that are out there,” she remarked. “They’re not giving Congress all the information, all the documents, and they’re obfuscating, and I’d like to ask questions about that.”

This unexpected vote highlighted the committee's ongoing efforts to address the Trump administration's reluctance to release Epstein-related files. The committee had previously voted in July to subpoena the Justice Department, resulting in the receipt of thousands of documents. In November, Congress enacted legislation mandating the creation of a searchable database for all relevant files.

Despite the Justice Department uploading millions of documents by January's end, numerous files remain unaccounted for, including FBI forms related to an unverified allegation against former President Donald Trump.

Prior to the vote, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) attempted to dissuade his colleagues from supporting Mace’s motion. “Remember, the attorney general has offered to come in and give briefings,” he stated.

However, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) quickly interjected, clarifying, “There’s no commitment for her to come in, as far as I understand.”

Notably, a deposition carries more weight than a briefing and poses potential consequences for any false statements made.

Other Republicans who supported the subpoena included Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas), and Scott Perry (Pa.).

During a recent hearing with the House Judiciary Committee, Bondi faced criticism for her dismissive attitude towards lawmakers, opting to praise Trump instead of addressing their inquiries. She claimed he is the greatest president in American history, citing the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 50,000 points as evidence.

Mace asserted that Bondi must adopt a more serious demeanor during her deposition. “I don’t expect to be talking about the stock market, so she better not bring those notes when she comes to the Oversight Committee,” Mace concluded.