Dems Walk Out on AG Briefing, Demand Oath Over Epstein Files

Democrats Storm Out of AG Pam Bondi Briefing, Demand Oath

Washington D.C. – Democrats on the House Oversight Committee walked out of a closed-door briefing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, refusing to participate unless she agreed to testify under oath. The confrontation occurred one day after the committee subpoenaed Bondi to answer questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

According to Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democrat from Florida and a member of the committee, the lawmakers repeatedly asked Bondi if she would testify under oath. Bondi, however, refused to give a direct commitment. “She would not say yes,” Frost stated. “We want her under oath because we do not trust her. And we’ve all seen it.”

A ‘Performance’ Not a Hearing

The briefing, held in the committee room, was described by Frost as an attempt to simulate a congressional hearing or deposition, but without the legal safeguards. “Essentially what they were simulating was a congressional hearing or a deposition, except not under oath, no transcripts, no staff, no attorneys, no video, no nothing,” Frost explained. He characterized it as a situation “where she’s free to lie to us as much as she wants.”

Democrats felt the setup was designed to allow Bondi to avoid a formal, sworn deposition. Representative Summer Lee stated she would not ask questions because the session was not under oath. She pressed Bondi on her commitment to the official deposition the committee had already voted on. Bondi repeatedly responded that she would “follow the law” but would not commit to appearing for the sworn testimony.

Accusations of Lying and Cover-Up

The frustration boiled over when committee chairman James Comer reportedly told Bondi she was “bitching” during a back-and-forth. At that point, the Democratic members decided to leave. “We walked out because we’re not going to give Pam Bondi material to try to get out of the legal subpoena that we issued,” Frost said, describing the mood as “very pissed off and very frustrated at this brazen attempt to try to circumvent the law.”

Frost accused Bondi of being involved in “one of the greatest cover-ups we’ve ever seen with the Epstein files.” He pointed to the delayed release of documents related to Donald Trump, which he claims violated a law requiring documents to be released within 30 days of a vote. “She brazenly violated the law waiting over 30 days to release the files,” Frost asserted.

Additionally, Frost raised concerns about alleged spying on members of Congress. “She spied on members of Congress. That too,” he added, suggesting this further eroded trust. Democrats believe Bondi cannot be trusted in a closed-door, unsworn setting given these past actions.

Key Questions Remain

Despite the walkout, Democrats still expect Bondi to comply with the subpoena for sworn testimony. Frost believes the committee chairman, James Comer, was put in a difficult position but remains committed to compelling Bondi’s appearance. “He just said, no, we’re going to compel her to come in. So I’m glad we walked out,” Frost commented.

When asked about the most important question Bondi should face, Frost highlighted the alleged spying on members of Congress. “I’m going to center a lot of my questioning on the spying of members of Congress because I think that’s kind of a key that unlocks a lot,” he said. He wants to know who approved the spying and who directed it, suggesting it could reveal higher-level directives to cover up information.

Frost also reiterated the importance of questioning Bondi about her alleged violations of the law in releasing documents, particularly those redacted to protect Donald Trump. He believes a sworn deposition, which involves attorneys asking questions and lasts significantly longer than the informal briefing, is crucial for uncovering the full truth. “It’s a lot more of a serious thing that I think will uncover a lot for us,” Frost concluded.

What’s Next?

The standoff signifies a continued push by Democrats for transparency regarding the Epstein files and the Justice Department’s actions. The committee is expected to pursue further action to ensure Pam Bondi testifies under oath, as mandated by the subpoena. The focus will likely remain on the alleged cover-up, the delayed document release, and the accusations of spying on lawmakers. The outcome of these efforts could shed more light on the department’s handling of sensitive information and potentially implicate higher-ranking officials.

Source: BONDI BLOWOUT: Dems dump Epstein meeting with A.G., demanding oath to stop lying (YouTube)