Pam Bondi is reportedly trying to spin her unceremonious journey into the dustbin of history into an excuse to *not* testify before Congress. The now-former Attorney General was subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee last month. In a rare bipartisan moment fueled by the principle that “this looks bad” (sometimes) transcends party lines, five Republicans on the committee joined the Dems to demand answers over Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files.
But assistant attorney general Patrick Davis wrote to the committee to “kindly ask that you confirm that the subpoena is withdrawn,” and that the DOJ “continues to believe that additional compulsory process is unnecessary in light of our demonstrated willingness to voluntarily assist your oversight efforts.” And a spokesperson for the Department said, “Because of the leadership transition at the Department, the subpoena no longer applies.”
Which, I guess if you never ask the answer is always no. But, let’s be so fucking for real right now, that argument is about as persuasive as a toddler claiming bedtime “no longer applies” because they changed into different pajamas. Unsurprisingly, the committee is not buying what DOJ is selling at the clearance rack of accountability — they’ve already confirmed they’ll reach out to her personal attorney. “The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” a spokeswoman for Oversight Republicans said in a statement. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”
Plus the committee has already heard testimony from, ahem, former Attorney General Bill Barr, proving that “ex-A.G.” is not, in fact, a cloak of invisibility. And top Democrat on the committee Rep. Richard Garcia made it clear he’s not going to let this go. “She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress,” he said. “The survivors deserve justice.” Rep. James Walkinshaw noted the subpoena “did not become null and void when she was fired.”
Republican Nancy Mace also had strong words for the flimsy excuse. “Leaving office doesn’t mean you get to dodge accountability,” Mace said in a statement. “Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title, and because the DOJ stonewalled Congress and refused to follow the law, she needs to appear before the Oversight Committee and answer for it.”
“She promised she would comply,” she said. “April 14 is her chance to prove it. Chairman Comer must make one thing clear: show up or face contempt.”
The committee sure looks like they’re ready to go all in to show Bondi you can’t ghost Congress like a bad Hinge date.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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