Dem Lawmaker Slams Bondi’s Epstein Testimony Refusal

House Democrats Push Back as Bondi Skips Epstein Probe

A leading House Democrat is calling out former Attorney General Pam Bondi for refusing to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Congresswoman Summer Lee, a member of the committee, stated that Bondi is “looking for excuses” and acting with “arrogance” by avoiding the subpoena.

Subpoena Ignored, Contempt Looms

The House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed Bondi, who served as Attorney General of Florida during the initial stages of the Epstein investigation. Bondi, however, has indicated she will not appear. This refusal has prompted threats of contempt proceedings from House Democrats, including Congresswoman Mace.

Forbes and The Hill reported on the developments, highlighting the potential for Bondi to be held in contempt of Congress. If held in contempt, the matter would be referred to the Department of Justice for further action.

Doubts Over DOJ Action

Congresswoman Lee expressed skepticism about the Department of Justice’s willingness to pursue contempt charges, especially given the Trump administration’s past actions. “The way that Trump’s Department of Justice has conducted itself so far does not leave confidence for us to think that they’ll do this, any sort of an honorable investigation on their own,” she stated.

Lee explained that there are two types of contempt: civil and criminal. Criminal contempt is sent directly to the DOJ, while civil contempt follows a different path. The committee is currently weighing the best options to move forward and seek justice.

Precedent for Former Officials

Bondi’s defense for not testifying is that she is no longer the current Attorney General. However, Lee pointed out that there is existing precedent for the committee to compel testimony from former officials. Former Attorney General Barr, for instance, testified before the committee about Epstein in August of the previous year.

Lee also noted that there is precedent for former presidents, secretaries of state, and other high-ranking officials to appear before the committee or face contempt charges. “She’s looking for excuses because she thinks that there are some people out in the public who will accept them,” Lee said, emphasizing that the subpoena specifically named Bondi due to her handling of the Epstein case files.

Arrogance and Disrespect

The Congresswoman characterized Bondi’s actions as “incredibly arrogant” and disrespectful of legislative and executive branch processes. “I think that that’s how she’s been moving this entire time,” Lee remarked, adding that perhaps this attitude is why Bondi no longer holds a government position.

Focus Shifts to Swalwell Allegations

Later in the interview, the discussion turned to breaking news regarding sexual assault allegations against House colleague Eric Swalwell. Lee acknowledged reading about the allegations and called them “incredibly disappointing and discouraging and heinous.”

Prioritizing Survivors

Lee stressed that the focus should be on the healing and well-being of the accusers. “These women, these survivors, these victims, their healing is important to us,” she stated. She believes that when such allegations arise, the individual should “do the right thing.”

Accountability and Transparency

The allegations against Swalwell, Lee noted, underscore the importance of the committee’s work on the Epstein case. “We want to create a world where women feel confident that they can come forward and there will be accountability,” she explained. Lee is “100% for accountability, for transparency, for responsibility, and also for the support systems for for all the women who have come forward.”

Call for Swalwell’s Withdrawal

When asked if Swalwell should drop out of the California gubernatorial race and resign from Congress, Lee firmly stated that he should not continue his political pursuits while investigations are ongoing. “I don’t believe that it is possible to move forward and honor whatever investigation would go forward,” Lee said, emphasizing that it would not be respectful of the process.

Looking Ahead

The refusal of Pam Bondi to testify and the ongoing investigations into serious allegations against public figures highlight ongoing challenges in achieving accountability. As the House Oversight Committee considers its next steps regarding Bondi, the public will be watching to see if justice can be served and if mechanisms for accountability will be strengthened.

Source: ‘She’s looking for excuses’: House Dem calls out Pam Bondi for refusing to testify in Epstein probe (YouTube)