House Democrats exited a briefing with Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday, criticizing her for not providing clear answers regarding a subpoena from the Oversight Committee.
“We repeatedly asked her if she would testify under oath, but she refused to confirm,” stated Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) during a press conference following the briefing. “We want her testimony under oath because we lack confidence in her statements.”
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House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena to Bondi on Tuesday, requiring her to testify about the Justice Department’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Democrats claim Bondi did not commit to complying with the subpoena, stating only that she would “follow the law.”
Bondi reiterated this position to reporters, asserting she “made it crystal clear I will follow the law” during the briefing.
A spokesperson from the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Democrats further argued that the briefing on Epstein, with Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche present, was essentially a “fake hearing” hidden from public view.
“This setup is irresponsible. We believe it’s a strategy for the attorney general to avoid answering questions under oath and in public, which we cannot accept,” stated Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the panel’s ranking member.
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Democrats also criticized Comer’s behavior during the private briefing.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) questioned the Republican lawmaker on whether he would “compel” Bondi to testify if she ignored the subpoena and if he would push for contempt hearings against her.
Lee reported that Comer accused her of “bitching” instead of providing a response to her inquiry.
“Rather than respond maturely, he claimed I was ‘bitching,’ which is against committee rules that prohibit engaging in personalities,” Lee remarked, describing the briefing as a “farce.” “If C-SPAN and the public had been present, he would likely have acted differently.”
Comer later confirmed these comments to reporters.
A spokesperson for House Oversight Republicans accused Democrats of using Wednesday’s briefing as a “partisan stunt.”
“It was evident from the start that Democrats planned to walk out of the briefing provided by the DOJ,” the spokesperson stated. “Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche answered substantive questions, and Bondi confirmed she would comply with the law regarding her subpoena. Democrats clearly prioritize theatrics over seeking answers or justice for survivors.”
Comer also indicated to reporters his intention to proceed with Bondi’s subpoena, though he did not commit to holding her in criminal contempt if she did not comply.
“We’ll need to discuss it as a committee,” he said.
