Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a closed-door briefing to the House Oversight Committee yesterday on the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and related files. The session, which lasted about 30 minutes, turned tense as Democrats pressed Bondi on her compliance with a subpoena for a deposition next month, leading to their abrupt departure.

The briefing followed a subpoena issued Tuesday by Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., requiring Bondi to appear for a sworn deposition on April 14. The Republican-led panel is probing possible mismanagement in the federal investigation of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump last year. That legislation mandated the release of Epstein-related documents, with the DOJ disclosing over 3 million pages by January 30, 2026.

Bondi and Blanche aimed to address lawmakers' concerns over redactions and the review process. Bondi emphasized the department's efforts under a tight 30-day deadline, noting that the volume of documents would stack to the height of the Eiffel Tower. "No other administration — under the Biden administration, they released zero documents," she said. Blanche added that any redaction errors were quickly corrected to protect victims.

Tensions escalated when Democrats demanded Bondi commit explicitly to the deposition. She responded repeatedly, "I made it crystal clear, I will follow the law." Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., called the response "infuriating" and accused the administration of a cover-up. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., criticized the lack of new information and the absence of cameras.

Comer intervened, accusing Lee of wasting time, prompting audible gasps and the Democrats' walkout. Republicans, including Comer and Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., dismissed the exit as staged theatrics, with Comer noting Democrats complained rather than asking substantive questions.

The subpoena, passed on a bipartisan vote earlier this month, with all Democrats and five Republicans supporting it, led by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Comer has expressed reluctance, stating personally he sees no need for the deposition, but plans to proceed.

Bondi later told reporters the DOJ had offered ample time for questions, but Democrats demanded C-SPAN coverage before storming out. The committee's probe continues, with lawmakers and victims pushing for more unredacted files and further depositions.