Bondi’s subpoena Tuesday landed amid continued political scrutiny of the Justice Department’s work on the Epstein files, a document release that has become a flashpoint for lawmakers and alleged victims. The deposition is set for April 14, after the Republican-led House committee voted earlier this month to compel testimony, according to the subpoena described by the committee.
The committee said it is seeking answers about both the Justice Department’s sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and what the agency did with “millions of files” connected to the case. In his letter to Bondi, Oversight Chairman James Comer said the committee has questions about the department’s handling of the investigation into Epstein and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, adding that Bondi oversees the department’s collection, review and release determinations under the act.
Comer wrote that, as Attorney General, Bondi is directly responsible for overseeing the department’s collection, review and determinations regarding release of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the committee therefore believes she has “valuable insight” into the department’s efforts. The committee’s action followed the vote earlier this month in which five Republicans supported subpoenaing Bondi.
The Justice Department responded that the subpoena is unnecessary. In its statement, the department said Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were expected to provide a private briefing Wednesday to members of the committee, and it said lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files at the Justice Department.
The administration’s release efforts have faced sustained political pressure since the files began rolling out in December. Critics have accused the department of hiding certain documents and over-redacting parts of the materials, while in other instances alleged victims have said redactions were sloppy and exposed sensitive information.
The Justice Department has defended its approach, saying it worked as quickly and diligently as possible to review and release the millions of documents required under the law. The department has denied claims that it used redactions to protect particular people or improperly withheld materials, and it said it moved to correct any redaction errors that victims raised.
The subpoena from the House Oversight Committee adds another step to the confrontation between Congress and the Justice Department over the Epstein files as lawmakers press for clearer explanations about review decisions, compliance steps and any redaction errors. The committee’s next public window for testimony is April 14, after the private briefing expected Wednesday.