1 month ago
The House oversight and authorities betterment committee has said that erstwhile lawyer wide Pam Bondi will now look earlier nan sheet connected 29 May to reply questions astir nan Department of Justice’s handling of nan Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its merchandise of nan Epstein files.
The announcement of nan day came soon aft nan Democrats connected nan committee announced that they had revenge a civilian contempt resolution against Bondi aft she did not look for her deposition earlier this month.
On Wednesday morning, Representative Robert Garcia, nan apical Democrat connected nan committee, announced nan contempt resolution, saying successful a statement that Bondi had “illegally defied our committee, skipped her deposition, and has refused to cooperate”, adding that Democrats had introduced nan contempt measurement “to clasp her accountable”.
Bondi was subpoenaed by nan committee past month, while she was still serving arsenic lawyer general. In nan subpoena letter, Representative James Comer, nan Republican who chairs nan committee, wrote 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”.
The justness section has faced disapproval successful recent months complete its compliance pinch nan law, aft nan section grounded to comply pinch nan act’s 19 December deadline to merchandise nan applicable files, alternatively releasing what it claimed were nan afloat files connected 31 January. Survivors of Epstein’s maltreatment person besides raised concerns that delicate individual accusation was improperly disclosed successful nan files, while respective lawmakers person besides criticized immoderate of nan redactions successful nan documents. The section has maintained that it acted successful accordance pinch nan law.
Earlier this month, aft Donald Trump removed Bondi from her role, nan House committee announced that it was informed by nan justness section that Bondi would not beryllium appearing for nan scheduled deposition.
In a missive to Comer, adjunct lawyer wide Patrick Davis based on that nan lawsuit nary longer applied because “the committee issued nan lawsuit to Ms Bondi successful her charismatic capacity arsenic lawyer general”.
“Ms Bondi nary longer holds that office,” nan missive reads. “As a result, because Ms Bondi nary longer tin attest successful her charismatic capacity arsenic lawyer general, nan department’s position is that nan lawsuit nary longer obligates her to look connected 14 April.”
In nan connection connected Wednesday, Garcia said that “Bondi has extended individual knowledge astir nan Trump administration’s handling of nan Epstein files, and sloppy of her occupation title, her grounds and practice are crucial”.
After nan Democrats’ announced nan contempt action, a spokesperson for nan oversight committee said nan contempt charges are “completely unnecessary” and said that Bondi is “appearing connected May 29.”.
In response, nan Oversight Democrats wrote connected societal media: “Well look astatine this… 45 minutes aft we record contempt charges against Pam Bondi for defying her lawsuit to testify, @GOPoversight yet announces a day for her appearance.”
The justness section did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.
