Full Breakdown
House Oversight Committee Schedules Pam Bondi Testimony After Contempt Action
4/30/2026, 1:11:26 AM
Scheduled Testimony
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on May 29, 2026. The session will be a closed-door, transcribed interview; she will not be sworn under oath but will be reminded that false statements to Congress are punishable.
Background
The 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Donald Trump, required the DOJ to release all records on Jeffrey Epstein by Dec. 19, 2025. The department missed the deadline, later issuing a partial release of three million pages—about half the files—and withholding the rest for privacy, ongoing investigations, or national-security reasons.
Key Figures
Pam Bondi, former U.S. Attorney General; Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member; Rep. James Comer (R-KY), committee chair; Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), subpoena sponsor; Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN); Reps. Lauren Boebert (CO), Michael Cloud (TX), Scott Perry (PA); Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis, DOJ.
Timeline
March 2026 – bipartisan subpoena approved 24-19.
April 2, 2026 – President Trump removed Bondi.
April 14, 2026 – scheduled deposition; Bondi absent.
April 29, 2026 – Democrats filed civil contempt resolution.
May 29, 2026 – Committee announced Bondi’s interview.
Data & Statistics
DOJ released roughly three million pages, about 50 % of the total. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam cited “2 ½ million files” still withheld. The subpoena vote was 24-19.
Official Statements
Garcia said Bondi’s testimony is essential and that the committee is pursuing contempt because the chair is delaying. Comer said the May 29 date was set promptly. The DOJ, through Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis, argued the subpoena ended when Bondi left office.
Criticism & Opposition
Republicans called the contempt move “all theater and completely unnecessary,” and Rep. Tim Burchett said, “Let’s get somebody in that knows what’s going on.” GOP members also noted the delayed appearances of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a contrast.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The DOJ says the subpoena is no longer binding after Bondi’s dismissal, while Democrats argue it remains enforceable. The number of withheld files is cited as both “2 ½ million” and “roughly half of the files.” Initial reports called it a deposition; later corrections said it will be a transcribed interview without oath.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Pam Bondi has illegally defied our committee, skipped her deposition, and has refused to cooperate.” — Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, House Oversight Committee
- “Clearly we’re being effective.” — Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, House Oversight Committee
- “This is all theater and completely unnecessary,” — Rep. James Comer, Chairman, House Oversight Committee
- “Let’s get somebody in that knows what’s going on,” — Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN
What’s Next
The committee plans to subpoena additional former officials, and the Government Accountability Office has opened an investigation into DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The civil contempt resolution remains pending before the full House.
