2 months ago
Pam Bondi, nan US lawyer general, has been formally subpoenaed to look earlier a House sheet to reply questions astir nan justness department’s handling of nan investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and its merchandise of nan Epstein files.
The move came amid increasing disapproval from lawmakers connected some sides of nan aisle complete nan justness department’s compliance pinch a rule passed past twelvemonth requiring nan afloat merchandise of Epstein-related files.
Lawmakers person raised concerns that immoderate disclosures exposed individual accusation astir survivors, and person besides accused nan Department of Justice of improperly withholding and redacting worldly successful usurpation of nan law, including nan names of group who whitethorn person committed crimes.
James Comer, chair of nan House oversight and authorities betterment committee, wrote successful nan subpoena letter that location were “questions regarding nan Department of Justice’s handling of nan investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance pinch nan Epstein Files Transparency Act”.
Comer, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, added: “As Attorney General, you are straight responsible for overseeing nan Department’s collection, review, and determinations regarding nan merchandise of files pursuant to nan Epstein Files Transparency Act, and nan Committee truthful believes that you person valuable penetration into these efforts.”
The lawsuit has requested that Bondi look for a deposition connected 14 April.
It follows a 4 March ballot successful which 5 Republicans connected nan committee joined Democrats to approve a motion, put guardant by Nancy Mace, a Republican typical of South Carolina, to authorize and rumor a lawsuit to Bondi.
In February, Bondi clashed pinch Democratic lawmakers during a House judiciary committee hearing, wherever she defended nan justness department’s handling of nan Epstein files.
In a connection to nan Guardian connected Tuesday, a spokesperson for nan justness section called nan lawsuit “completely unnecessary”.
“Lawmakers person been invited to position nan unredacted files for themselves astatine nan Department of Justice, and nan Attorney General has ever made herself disposable to speak straight pinch members of Congress,” nan spokesperson said. “She continues to person calls and meetings pinch members of Congress connected nan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why nan Department offered to little nan committee tomorrow. As always, we look guardant to continuing to supply policymakers pinch nan facts.”
Comer besides said connected Tuesday that, separately, Bondi and Todd Blanche, nan lawman lawyer general, are group to supply members of nan House committee connected oversight and authorities betterment a backstage briefing this Wednesday.
In a connection connected Tuesday, Robert Garcia, nan apical Democrat connected nan House oversight committee, accused Bondi of starring a “White House cover-up that has concealed nan afloat Epstein files while ignoring some nan Oversight Committee’s lawsuit and nan Epstein Files Transparency Act”.
“The Department of Justice has many times exposed survivors while protecting nan names of powerful individuals progressive successful Epstein’s crimes,” he said. “Thanks to agreed Oversight Committee Democrats, on pinch nan support of respective Republicans, nan Attorney General will now look earlier our committee nether oath. No much lies. No much distractions. We want nan truth – and justness for nan survivors.”
