The US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify regarding the Justice Department's handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker whose case sparked international shockwaves.
The vote took place on March 4, 2026. Results showed that 19 Democrats and 5 Republicans on the committee supported the subpoena request.
The five Republicans who voted in favor were:
Lauren Boebert (Colorado)
Tim Burchett (Tennessee)
Michael Cloud (Texas)
Nancy Mace (South Carolina)
Scott Perry (Pennsylvania)
The subpoena request was introduced by Representative Nancy Mace. Following the vote, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we.”
Controversy surrounding the Epstein files
Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced repeated criticism over the handling of documents from the Epstein case.
Jeffrey Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage victims.
Controversy intensified on February 21, 2025, when Bondi stated in an interview with Fox News that Epstein’s client list “is sitting on my desk for review.”
Six days later, administration officials distributed folders titled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to several social media influencers.
However, these files contained no new information, consisting primarily of excerpts from Epstein’s contact book with many addresses and details heavily redacted.
Conclusions from the DOJ and FBI
On July 6, 2025, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a joint memorandum concluding that Epstein committed suicide in prison and that no secret client list exists, contrary to widespread speculation.
This conclusion sparked significant debate among the public and in Congress, especially as images from the Epstein files continue to resurface frequently in the media.
Law requiring the release of records
In November 2025, President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, requiring the DOJ to release 6 million pages of documents related to Epstein, with certain sections redacted to protect victims and ongoing investigations.
Representative Nancy Mace stated that approximately 3 million pages have been released so far, but she believes much information remains undisclosed.
“The American people deserve to know the truth and the victims deserve justice,” she said.
Uncertainties
The Department of Justice has not yet issued an official comment on the subpoena. The specific date for Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before the House Oversight Committee has not been announced.
