Pam Bondi's Epstein Files Testimony Blocked After Trump Firing, DOJ Cites Role Change

A scheduled congressional deposition into the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents has been abruptly canceled. Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, will not testify before the House Oversight Committee on April 14 as planned. The Department of Justice informed the committee that Bondi, who was subpoenaed in her official capacity, is no longer the Attorney General and therefore will not appear. This development follows her public firing last week by former President Donald Trump, from a role on his legal team, which she had described as being 'thrilled' about.

The cancellation centers on allegations that Bondi mishandled or obstructed the release of files related to the Epstein investigation during her tenure as Florida's top prosecutor. The committee had sought her testimony to scrutinize these claims. According to a statement from a House Oversight spokesperson relayed by Semafor reporter Nicholas Wu, the DOJ's position is that the subpoena's authority was tied directly to her former official position. However, the door for future testimony remains technically open; the committee stated it will contact Bondi's personal counsel to discuss rescheduling her deposition.

This move effectively pauses, and potentially complicates, a line of inquiry that intersects high-profile political figures, powerful legal institutions, and the unresolved mysteries of the Epstein case. It signals how changes in official status can be leveraged to delay or deflect congressional scrutiny. The situation places renewed pressure on the committee's investigation and highlights the ongoing challenges in obtaining testimony from key figures connected to the Epstein network, as seen with other scheduled witnesses like Bill Gates.