Former Attorney General Pam Bondi made her first appearance on Capitol Hill since her departure from the Justice Department, as investigators prepare to question her regarding the Epstein case. On Friday, Bondi volunteered to transcribe interviews for the House Oversight Committee linked to the investigation into the deceased convicted offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
In a press conference earlier this year, tensions ran high when Democrats walked out during Bondi’s joint appearance with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Branch. Now, lawmakers on the oversight committee are gearing up for a potentially lengthy closed-door session to examine her time in office.
“Finally, Pam Bondi will need to answer our questions about the Epstein file tomorrow,” tweeted House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California. “We deserve to know the truth.”
Bondi’s presence comes on the heels of threats from both Democratic and some Republican committee members who indicated they’d suggest civil contempt should she fail to comply with a subpoena. Initially, the Trump administration asserted that her testimony was unnecessary since she was no longer in her official role. However, by choosing to transcribe the interview, she avoids having to testify under oath, although she is still legally barred from making false statements.
The session coincides with Congress’ Memorial Day break, and it remains unclear how many lawmakers will be present. Some Democrats have expressed disapproval of the arrangement for the interview.
“Bondi must testify publicly, in front of cameras,” asserted Rep. Melanie Stansbury from Arizona. “We expect transparency and accountability from Bondi and Blanchet.”
This scrutiny has been relentless, especially as some Republicans like Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky have taken issue with how the Justice Department managed the Epstein file during her leadership. Bondi had previously stated that the file was “on my desk for review,” but later appeared to walk back that statement.
The controversy grew after delays in public information releases, particularly following President Trump’s signing of the Epstein File Transparency Act, which mandates the files be accessible. Since then, the department has made over three million pages of documents available, though critics argue the records were not adequately redacted.
Bondi is set to be represented by Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant attorney general for civil rights who has been consulting with her since her termination. A spokesperson for the Justice Department noted that Bondi was at the helm during the law’s implementation and aims to provide a full representation of the department’s processes to the committee.
The interview takes place while Bondi is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, a diagnosis she received shortly after her departure from the Justice Department. “Pam has been quietly battling cancer for a few weeks now,” said Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official, on social media.
