The Hill - Garcia threatens Bondi with contempt on Tuesday

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) on Monday threatened former Attorney General Pam Bondi with contempt of Congress, a day before her previously scheduled deposition with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on its investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

“Our bipartisan subpoena was very clear: Pam Bondi is supposed to testify tomorrow, whether she’s the AG or not,” Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, wrote on social platform X. “If she doesn’t show up, she will face contempt.”

The Oversight panel subpoenaed Bondi last month, before President Trump removed her as attorney general on April 2. Less than a week after her dismissal, a spokesperson for the committee said the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that Bondi will not comply with the subpoena.

“The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” the spokesperson said.

“The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”

Garcia and other Democrats on the panel have argued that since Bondi was subpoenaed by name, she must appear for the deposition on Tuesday.

Former Cabinet members, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, have already appeared before the panel.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who introduced the motion to subpoena Bondi, said last week that she expected Bondi’s deposition “to be rescheduled in a timely fashion.” Mace was one of four Republicans to join all Democrats in attendance in voting to subpoena Bondi.

“Our motion made clear the Committee must issue a subpoena to Pam Bondi, not the occupant of the office of Attorney General of the United States,” the South Carolina Republican wrote on X. “Coordinate with her personal attorney, issue an updated subpoena if necessary. But if Pam Bondi continues to refuse to comply, she should be held in contempt.”

The House has voted to hold just three sitting attorneys general in contempt: Barr, Eric Holder and Merrick Garland.