Rep. Garcia Formally Pursues Bondi Contempt Charges Over Skipped Epstein Deposition

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, announced he would formally push for contempt of Congress charges against former Attorney General Pam Bondi after her refusal to appear at the committee’s April 14 deposition on the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to The Hill and Newsweek.¹²

Garcia’s escalation comes after Bondi’s legal team and the Department of Justice formally notified the committee that she would not appear, citing the argument that the subpoena issued to her in her official capacity as attorney general no longer applied after she was fired by President Donald Trump on April 2.

The Contempt Process and Penalties

Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor carrying a potential penalty of up to $100,000 in fines and up to 12 months in jail, according to The Hill’s reporting on Garcia’s announcement.¹

For contempt charges to advance, the full House Oversight Committee would need to vote to recommend a citation. The matter would then proceed to a vote in the full House and ultimately be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution. The U.S. Attorney has discretion over whether to file charges.

The Bipartisan Subpoena Bondi Defied

The original subpoena that compelled Bondi’s appearance passed the House Oversight Committee in a 24-19 bipartisan vote on March 4, 2026. Five Republicans crossed party lines to support the measure: Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), and Scott Perry (R-Pa.), according to The Hill.¹

Mace has been particularly outspoken in pushing back against the DOJ’s position that Bondi’s firing nullifies the subpoena. Mace has stated publicly that the subpoena was issued to Bondi as an individual, not in her capacity as attorney general, and remains binding regardless of her current employment.³

DOJ’s Position

The Department of Justice has formally notified the House Oversight Committee that it considers the subpoena no longer applicable. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has not directly addressed the contempt threat in public remarks, and DOJ leadership has signaled it intends to “move on” from the Epstein files matter.

That position has drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and the Republicans who supported the original subpoena, with several lawmakers framing the DOJ’s reasoning as a contrived legal shield rather than a good-faith interpretation of congressional subpoena power.

What Happens Next

Garcia’s formal push moves the contempt question from rhetorical threat to procedural action. Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) controls the committee’s agenda and would need to schedule a contempt vote. Comer has publicly criticized Bondi’s no-show but has not committed to advancing contempt proceedings.

If Comer declines to schedule a vote, Democrats could attempt to force the issue through procedural maneuvers, though they remain in the minority on the committee. The five Republicans who broke ranks on the original subpoena would likely be decisive in any contempt vote.

Context

The contempt push is one of multiple pressure points building on the Trump DOJ over its handling of the Epstein matter. The DOJ Office of the Inspector General announced on April 23 it has opened a probe into the department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. CNN published a major investigation on April 22 documenting victim allegations against other men that the FBI appears not to have pursued.

References

1. The Hill — “Garcia threatens Bondi with contempt on Tuesday”

2. Newsweek — “Epstein Files Update: Lawmaker Doubles Down on Pam Bondi Threat”

3. The Hill — “Bondi’s no-show in Epstein case prompts contempt move”