Democrats on the House Oversight Committee walked out of a Wednesday evening briefing with Attorney General Pam Bondi about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying Bondi repeatedly refused to commit to comply with a subpoena from GOP Chairman James Comer that would bring her in for a transcribed, under‑oath deposition.
Bondi told reporters after the briefing, “I will follow the law,” and defended the Justice Department’s handling of documents from the Epstein cases. She said the department released about 3 million records under the Trump administration and that hundreds of DOJ attorneys worked to redact and protect victim identities, acknowledging “less than 1% error” and saying mistakes were corrected “immediately” when identified.
Democrats described the session as a “fake hearing” staged to avoid a formal deposition. Members complained there was no oath, no C‑SPAN coverage and that the format cut off meaningful questioning. Ranking members said Bondi would not commit to appearing for an on‑the‑record deposition, and they vowed to press for a subpoenaed deposition, citing transparency and accountability for survivors.
Republicans defended the briefing as voluntary and substantive. Comer called the Democrats’ walkout “premeditated,” saying Republicans had the chance to ask “hard‑hitting” questions and would continue the Oversight investigation. He said the committee intends to pursue subpoenas to get answers and to press for accountability where warranted.
Democrats accused Bondi of obstructing justice, per statements from members in the room, and said they would continue pushing for depositions, contempt proceedings if necessary, and further document review. Some members referenced broader concerns about how Epstein‑related files were released and about protecting victims’ privacy.
Committee leaders on both sides said the investigation will continue; Republicans said they would keep interviewing witnesses and scheduling depositions, while Democrats said they would insist on sworn testimony and transcribed depositions that are made public. The dispute leaves unresolved whether Bondi will appear under subpoena and under oath before the committee.