Bloomberg Law - Democrat Raises Concerns About DOJ Lawyer Representing Bondi

The House Oversight Committee’s top Democrat raised concerns about a Justice Department official’s decision to represent Pam Bondi during her testimony about the release of files related to the sex trafficking investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The participation of Harmeet Dhillon, a political appointee leading the Justice Department’s civil rights division, as an attorney for the former attorney general during her scheduled congressional testimony this month “raises serious ethical concerns and conflicts of interest,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) wrote in a Monday letter.

Garcia said Dhillon so far appears to be representing Bondi in an official capacity, though she “has refused to engage” with Democratic committee staffers.

However, if she is representing Bondi in a personal capacity, her participation would raise “a clear conflict of interest” between Dhillon’s Justice Department duties and her obligations to Bondi individually, Garcia said.

The California Democrat also pointed to department policy prohibiting employees from practicing law, except for community service and for immediate family members.

Dhillon is among those who have been floated as a potential attorney general nominee, after Bondi was ousted last month. She previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and has overseen the dismantling of the Justice Department’s civil rights division and its pivot toward conservative causes, including gun rights.

Bondi is scheduled to provide recorded testimony, about the investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and the failure to release certain files related to the inquiry, before the Oversight panel on May 29.

The Republican-controlled committee had ordered her to sit for a formal deposition in April, while Bondi was serving as attorney general. Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in March that the committee was reviewing the “possible mismanagement” of the government’s investigation into Epstein, and related issues.

But Bondi pulled out of testifying after she was removed as attorney general last month. Her testimony was rescheduled as a transcribed interview, rather than a deposition. Garcia suggested these “extraordinary accommodations” allowing her to avoid a deposition were intended to allow her to be represented by Dhillon.

Under committee rules, agency employees may not attend depositions, and individuals being deposed may bring two non-government lawyers.

Garcia also asked Comer in his Monday letter to film Bondi’s testimony and make the video publicly available, rather than releasing only a transcript of her testimony. He noted that the committee released videotaped testimony from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in connection to the Epstein inquiries.

Epstein, who in 2008 had pleaded guilty to soliciting a child for prostitution, was charged in 2019 in Manhattan federal court with sex trafficking offenses. He died in prison that year while awaiting trial, and the investigation and his death have spurred years of conspiracy theories.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.