The Jeffrey Epstein files. You remember those. Trump promised them. His base demanded them. And when it actually came time to release them and hold people accountable, Pam Bondi's DOJ slow-walked everything, released as little as possible, and now — after she's been fired — won't even show up to testify about why.
Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee voted with Democrats to subpoena Bondi for a deposition. The committee wanted to know why the remaining Epstein files haven't been released and why there haven't been new prosecutions. Bondi was subpoenaed by name. The DOJ's response: she won't appear because she's no longer Attorney General.
"Leaving office doesn't mean you get to dodge accountability. Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title, and because the DOJ stonewalled Congress and refused to follow the law, she needs to appear before the Oversight Committee and answer for it." That's not a Democrat. That's a Republican on the committee that subpoenaed her.
What She Was Asked to Answer
Rep. Ro Khanna, who co-wrote the letter demanding Bondi's appearance alongside Mace, said Bondi needed to answer for why the remaining Epstein files haven't been released and why — despite years of promises — there have been no new prosecutions of Epstein's associates and clients. The DOJ under Bondi stonewalled Congress repeatedly on Epstein-related requests. The files that were released were largely redacted. The names that matter remain protected.
Trump ran partly on Epstein accountability. His base wanted names. What they got was a DOJ that sat on the files, fired the AG who was overseeing it, and then used her departure as the legal excuse to avoid testifying about why nothing happened.
The Melania Sideshow
Melania Trump made a rare public statement on April 9 saying she "never had a relationship" with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and called on Congress to hold a hearing for Epstein survivors. The White House, clearly desperate to pivot the Epstein story away from the DOJ's inaction, used the first lady's statement as a redirect. It didn't work. The committee still wants Bondi's testimony. And Bondi is still not showing up.
Trump promised Epstein accountability. What he delivered was a DOJ that buried the files, fired the AG, and then used her firing to dodge the subpoena. The con is complete.
The Pattern
This is how accountability dies in this administration. Not with a dramatic confrontation — with bureaucratic maneuvering. Bondi was subpoenaed. The DOJ says the subpoena was for her as Attorney General, and since she's no longer AG, the subpoena doesn't apply. The committee says that's not how it works — she was subpoenaed by name. The lawyers will fight about it. And while they fight, the names in the Epstein files stay buried, the survivors get no justice, and the people who flew on that plane keep living their lives.
The committee says it will contact Bondi's personal counsel to discuss scheduling her deposition. Let's see if that goes anywhere. Given this administration's relationship with congressional oversight — which is to say, open contempt for it — don't hold your breath.
Sources
- NBC News: DOJ statement that Bondi won't appear; House Oversight Committee spokeswoman statement; Rep. Mace and Rep. Khanna letter; Melania statement on Epstein; five Republicans who voted to subpoena Bondi.