Washington, 18 March (H.S.): The US House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena compelling Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify in a closed-door deposition on April 14 regarding the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related records.

This decisive action, approved earlier this month with bipartisan support, underscores mounting congressional frustration over the federal probe into the convicted sex offender, who died in custody in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges involving minors.

Republican Chairman James Comer emphasized Bondi's pivotal role in overseeing compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the release of investigative documents amid concerns about redactions, withheld materials, and potential mismanagement.

Lawmakers from both parties have lambasted the department for disclosing only about half of the six million pages in its possession, leaving tens of thousands of documents—including those with explicit content or victim identities—unreleased or heavily censored.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who spearheaded the subpoena motion, accused authorities of stonewalling vital information, declaring on social media that Epstein's victims deserve unyielding pursuit of justice against the powerful elites implicated in his notorious network.

The inquiry intensifies scrutiny on lingering controversies, such as Epstein's death under federal watch and the prosecution of accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, as Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche prepare for preliminary briefings that lawmakers insist will not supplant formal testimony.

With disputes persisting over missing records like documents and video evidence, the deposition promises to illuminate whether systemic delays have shielded influential figures from accountability.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar