Bipartisan fury erupts in Oversight Committee as Democrats and five Republicans vote to subpoena AG Pam Bondi over Epstein files
Washington DC, March 5, 2026 — The House Oversight Committee voted 24–19 Wednesday to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling and redaction of Jeffrey Epstein documents, in a rare display of bipartisan frustration that saw all Democrats join five Republicans in support of the measure.
The motion, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), passed with the backing of Mace, Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Scott Perry (R-PA) and every Democrat on the panel. Chairman James Comer (R-KY) opposed the subpoena, arguing that private briefings should suffice, but was outvoted.
The vote came amid escalating Democratic accusations that the Department of Justice under Bondi is deliberately stonewalling Congress by withholding significant portions of the Epstein files despite the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and an earlier August 2025 committee subpoena. Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) accused the department of “blatant obstruction” and selective disclosure that protects powerful individuals named in the documents.
During the markup session, several Democratic members rose to speak after Bondi’s department had briefed select lawmakers in closed session the previous week. Multiple lawmakers described the briefing as “inadequate” and “insulting”, with one reportedly exclaiming “What the hell are you still hiding?” as he struck the table — a moment captured on C-SPAN microphones and quickly shared online. The room reportedly grew heated as Democrats demanded immediate release of unredacted victim statements, investigative summaries and materials concerning President Trump’s mentions in the files.
Bondi’s team has maintained that the department is complying with the law in phases, citing the need to protect living victims’ identities, ongoing investigative sensitivities and privacy rights of uncharged third parties. A DOJ spokesperson said after the vote that the Attorney General “continues to offer classified and unclassified briefings to members” and is “committed to transparency within the bounds of the law”.
The subpoena has not yet set a date for testimony. If enforced, it would require Bondi to appear before the committee and could lead to a court battle over executive privilege — a frequent clash during the current administration. Legal scholars note that such subpoenas are often negotiated or litigated rather than litigated to the point of contempt proceedings.
The Epstein files, released in tranches since January 2026, have so far produced no new criminal charges but have intensified scrutiny of redactions and the pace of disclosure. Democrats argue that heavily redacted sections conceal potential leads concerning powerful figures, while some Republicans have expressed private frustration that the releases have not moved quickly enough to satisfy public demand.
Outside the committee room, reaction was swift. Social media clips of the outburst circulated widely, with hashtags #ReleaseTheFiles and #EpsteinCoverUp trending within hours. Survivor advocacy groups praised the bipartisan vote as a sign that pressure is building, while some conservative commentators criticized it as partisan theatre aimed at the Trump-appointed Attorney General.
The subpoena now heads to the full House for potential enforcement mechanisms if Bondi does not comply or negotiate an appearance. Whether the committee’s anger translates into additional document releases, a contempt citation, or simply prolonged political theater remains unclear.
For the moment, the March 4 hearing has become one of the clearest public demonstrations yet of bipartisan exasperation with the slow and selective pace at which the Epstein files are entering the public domain.
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