Former AG Pam Bondi to Testify Before House Panel on Epstein Records

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on May 29. The announcement follows a period of significant friction, as Democratic members of the committee recently initiated the process to hold Bondi in civil contempt after she failed to appear for scheduled testimony on April 14. The inquiry focuses on the Department of Justice's handling of records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Representative Robert Garcia, the committee's ranking member, stated that Bondi possesses critical knowledge regarding the Trump administration's management of these files, arguing that her cooperation is essential for transparency and the survivors of abuse. Parallel to the congressional inquiry, the Department of Justice's internal watchdog has launched an investigation into the agency's compliance with a 2025 law that mandates the full release of the Epstein files. Furthermore, Senator Jeff Merkley has announced that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct an independent probe into the DOJ's actions. The proceedings occur against a backdrop of political volatility, with the House Oversight committee majority dismissing the contempt proceedings as theater. Bondi, who was dismissed from her position by President Donald Trump on April 2, remains a central figure in the effort to determine if federal records were improperly withheld.