US Attorney General Bondi Formally Summoned to Congress Over Epstein Case

(Patria) - A US congressional committee has formally summoned Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding she answer questions about her handling of the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC reported. Bondi has been summoned to appear before the committee on April 14.

Republican Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, wrote in the summons letter that his committee is investigating "possible mismanagement" of the investigation. This move comes weeks after Nancy Mace, a Republican representative, requested a summons for Bondi and accused the Department of Justice of "covering up" Epstein's files.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice described the summons as "completely unnecessary." Bondi and the Donald Trump administration are facing increasing pressure across the political spectrum to release all documents related to the investigation.

"The committee has questions regarding the Department of Justice's handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act," Comer wrote in the letter.

The Department of Justice has also faced criticism for its handling of the files, including failing to redact the names of Epstein's victims.

"As Attorney General, you are directly responsible for overseeing the Department's collection, review, and decision-making regarding the release of files in accordance with the Epstein File Transparency Act, and the Committee therefore believes you possess valuable insight into these efforts," Comer stated.

Last November, Trump signed a bill passed by Congress requiring the Department of Justice to release all material from its Epstein investigations. But after millions of documents were released, the agency faced bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers accusing it of failing to redact some identifying information about survivors while protecting the identities of those who were not victims.

The Department of Justice stated that it has continued to provide policymakers with facts.

"This subpoena is completely unnecessary," the Department of Justice told the BBC on Tuesday.

"Lawmakers are invited to review the unredacted files at the Department of Justice themselves, and the Attorney General has always been available for direct conversation with members of Congress."

If Bondi appears, she will join a growing list of prominent names to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, appeared before the committee last month.