Attorney General SUBPOENAED Over Epstein Files

The House Oversight Committee delivered a stinging bipartisan rebuke to Attorney General Pam Bondi, voting to subpoena her over the Justice Department’s mishandling of Jeffrey Epstein documents—a rare moment when five Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in demanding answers about what many believe is a blatant cover-up.

Story Snapshot

House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 on March 4, 2026, to subpoena AG Pam Bondi over DOJ’s handling of Epstein files
Five Republicans joined all Democrats in rare bipartisan rebuke, with Rep. Nancy Mace sponsoring the motion
DOJ missed statutory deadline by 42 days and released only half of estimated 3 million documents while redacting the wrong information
Investigation expands to include Bill Gates, former White House counsel, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick

Bipartisan Vote Forces Bondi Testimony

The House Oversight Committee voted 24-19 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi for closed-door testimony regarding the Department of Justice’s mishandling of Jeffrey Epstein documents. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina sponsored the motion, which garnered support from five Republicans—Lauren Boebert, Scott Perry, Tim Burchett, Michael Cloud, and one unnamed member—who joined all committee Democrats. Chairman James Comer initially attempted to prevent the subpoena by offering member briefings as a compromise, but the committee rejected this controlled information-sharing approach in favor of formal, accountable testimony.

DOJ Misses Deadline and Violates Transparency Act

Congress passed legislation in November 2025 mandating the DOJ release all materials related to Jeffrey Epstein. The department missed the statutory deadline by 42 days and released only approximately half of the estimated files in its custody. Committee investigators identified serious problems with the documents that were released: survivor identities were inadequately protected while non-survivors’ names were redacted, and sensitive photographs were released in direct violation of the Epstein Transparency Act. Rep. Nancy Mace emphasized the urgency, stating the DOJ is currently hiding 65,000 documents from public scrutiny.

Investigation Expands to Epstein Financial Network

Chairman Comer announced he is working to schedule testimonies from both Attorney General Bondi and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick within coming weeks. The committee sent letters to seven additional individuals with Epstein ties, including billionaire Bill Gates and former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, requesting transcribed interviews. Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant, provided testimony identifying individuals who allegedly contributed to Epstein’s fortune, including former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, former Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black, former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky, and hedge fund investor Glenn Dubin. The committee scheduled a deposition with Darren Indyke, Epstein’s lawyer and estate co-executor.

Survivors Allege Administration Cover-Up

Epstein survivors have charged the administration with engaging in a cover-up, particularly regarding the DOJ’s decision to protect non-survivors’ identities while exposing victim information and releasing sensitive photographs. Rep. Robert Garcia emphasized that the American public has significant questions about the DOJ’s file release process and how the department ensures victims and survivors are protected. Rep. Ro Khanna framed the issue as fundamentally nonpartisan, stating it’s about transparency and going after predators rather than political affiliation. This bipartisan determination to compel answers represents a rare moment of congressional unity prioritizing transparency over party loyalty.

The subpoena signals congressional determination to establish precedent for oversight of executive branch document release decisions, particularly in sensitive matters involving crime victims. The DOJ’s pattern of delayed releases, incomplete disclosures, and problematic redactions undermines public trust in government transparency and accountability—core principles that should transcend partisan politics when justice for victims hangs in the balance.