Oversight Democrats File Civil Contempt Resolution Against Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files

Rep. Robert Garcia of California and every Democrat on the House Oversight Committee filed a resolution on April 29, 2026 to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in civil contempt of Congress, escalating a standoff over her refusal to testify about the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.¹

The filing came after Bondi failed to appear for a deposition the committee had subpoenaed for April 14. Unlike a criminal contempt referral, the civil route the Democrats chose would direct the House of Representatives to go to court to compel Bondi’s testimony.¹

”Regardless of Her Job Title”

Garcia argued that Bondi’s value as a witness did not end when President Donald Trump fired her on April 2. “Bondi has extensive personal knowledge about the Trump Administration’s handling of the Epstein files, and regardless of her job title, her testimony and cooperation are crucial,” he said.¹

The committee had secured a bipartisan subpoena for Bondi in March, after a motion by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace drew support from all of the panel’s Democrats and a handful of Republicans. That bipartisan posture has been a recurring feature of the Epstein fight on the Oversight Committee, even as the two parties have clashed over tactics.

A Date Announced “45 Minutes” Later

The contempt filing appeared to break the logjam almost immediately. Republicans on the committee announced that Bondi would appear before the panel on May 29 — an announcement that landed, by the Democrats’ count, less than an hour after they filed their resolution.

“Well look at this… 45 minutes after we file contempt charges against Pam Bondi for defying her subpoena to testify, @GOPoversight finally announces a date for her appearance,” Oversight Democrats wrote.¹

Bondi ultimately agreed to a transcribed interview rather than a sworn deposition — a format Democrats criticized because it allowed her to decline some questions with a Justice Department lawyer present. She sat for that interview on May 29, defending the department’s record while conceding that it had made “redaction errors” and pointing to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the official who oversaw the file release.

Context

The contempt resolution was one front in a broader confrontation between the Oversight Committee and the Justice Department over compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers in both parties have accused the department of missing statutory deadlines and using heavy redactions to shield politically connected figures named in the files, and the DOJ’s own inspector general opened a review of the department’s compliance in late April.

Bondi, who led the department when its releases drew the sharpest criticism — including for exposing the personal information of victims — became the central witness lawmakers wanted to question. The April 29 filing was the procedural pressure that finally produced a date.

Documents

• Oversight Democrats — Pam Bondi civil contempt resolution (April 29, 2026) — The resolution and the Democrats’ statement.
• DOJ — “3.5 Million Responsive Pages” release — The production whose adequacy the committee was investigating.

References

1. MS NOW — “Bondi to testify before House Oversight Committee after Democrats file contempt resolution”

2. U.S. House Committee on Oversight (Democrats) — “Ranking Member Robert Garcia Leads Oversight Democrats in Filing Pam Bondi Civil Contempt Resolution”

3. TIME — “Bondi to Testify in House Epstein Probe Next Month”