The House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding her testimony about the ongoing controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein files. The vote was 24-19, with five Republicans joining Democrats in a rare bipartisan push to compel her appearance.
According to Newsweek, lawmakers from both parties are concerned because, even though the Department of Justice (DOJ) has released millions of documents, key records still appear to be missing. These include videos, audio recordings, logs, and other material that was previously public but has reportedly been removed or pulled from view.
Republican Nancy Mace of South Carolina, one of the five who sided with Democrats, posted on X: “AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not.” She called the Epstein case “one of the greatest cover-ups in American history,” adding that despite three million documents being released, “we still don’t have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing.”
The missing Epstein files point to a deeper problem with DOJ transparency
She also questioned why the DOJ seems “more focused on shielding the powerful than delivering justice,” and ended with: “The American people deserve answers, victims deserve justice. HOLD. THE. LINE.”
Critics of Bondi argue that her department has ignored legal deadlines, withheld millions more pages of documents, and used redactions that undermine the intent of the law. These concerns helped build the bipartisan support needed to force her before the committee. The DOJ has also faced separate scrutiny after reports that it may have illegally withheld parts of the Epstein files, including FBI notes, further deepening concerns about transparency.
This is not Bondi’s first difficult appearance before Congress. In February, she clashed with lawmakers, apologized to victims for naming them in released files, and defended President Trump while avoiding questions about withheld evidence. Members of Congress have also claimed the DOJ was actively removing previously public documents and blocking oversight efforts.
The subpoena puts Bondi and the Trump administration’s Justice Department under significant public scrutiny. It could also raise fresh questions about President Trump’s relationship with Epstein, particularly since mentions of the president in the files, and their alleged removal, have alarmed lawmakers. Both Trump and Bondi had promised transparency around the Epstein files before and after the 2024 election, but reportedly reversed course last summer.
Democratic Representative Yassamin Ansari of Arizona said during the committee session: “The Department of Justice was caught red-handed withholding explosive and credible FBI witness interviews of a woman who accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor.
Shouldn’t we hold a hearing on that? Shouldn’t Pam Bondi be here, forced to testify about why she is violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act?” Democratic Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvania also posted on X: “I’m looking forward to talking to her face to face about the articles of impeachment I’m filing and making her answer for every time she’s lied, broken the law, & obstructed justice.”
The case continues to raise uncomfortable questions globally, with Epstein’s strange flight paths over the UK also drawing attention from military officials trying to understand the full picture. It is not yet clear when Bondi will appear before the committee.
Published: Mar 5, 2026 11:57 am