'Walls closing in': Eyebrows raise as GOP-led House subpoenas Pam Bondi over Epstein files
Reactions started rolling in Tuesday after a Republican-led House panel said it would subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi in connection with the Department of Justice regarding the agency's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to reports.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) wrote in a letter that Bondi was slated to be deposed on April 14, CNBC reported. The move came after five Republicans joined Democrats to support a motion forcing the attorney general to testify. Lawmakers were expected to question Bondi about the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in November.
"The Committee has questions regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act," Comer said.
"As Attorney General, you are directly responsible for overseeing the Department’s collection, review, and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the Committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts," Comer said.
Bondi and Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general, were expected to have a private briefing before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, MS NOW reported.
The internet responded to the news:
"The first question should contain an offer of immunity if she becomes a state's witness against her boss," author David Stone wrote on Bluesky.
"Lots of subpoenas & testifying. Never any consequences," JC R. Whitt, scientist and activist, wrote on Bluesky.
"House Oversight hitting Pam Bondi with a subpoena over Epstein probe mismanagement feels like the walls closing in on whatever was buried in those documents years ago. Bondi in the hot seat now after all the delays and redactions leaves the public wondering if we'll ever see unfiltered truth or just more theater shielding powerful names. What's the one revelation you think could actually break through this time around?" Automation specialist Oluwa Tobi wrote on X.
"Nancy Mace, who introduced the subpoena, has been planning to go 'scorched earth' on Pam Bondi once she gets in front of oversight, per a source familiar with her thinking," freelance reporter Jake Lahut wrote on X.