GOP hardliners wavering on support for Bondi subpoena after testy briefing

Conservative hardliners who supported subpoenaing Attorney General Pam Bondi in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe faced a potential reversal after Bondi’s voluntary, closed-door briefing with the panel turned contentious when Democrats walked out.

“Conservative hardliners who supported subpoenaing Attorney General Pam Bondi in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe are now indicating that they are open to changing their position after Bondi met with the panel for a briefing that turned contentious with Democrats”

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Rep. Lauren Boebert said she is absolutely considering withdrawing her support, calling the briefing shameful and saying Bondi was treated in a way that signals what’s to come.

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Bondi insisted she would follow the law and reiterated she planned to come into sworn testimony if required, while Democrats pressed for an under-oath deposition under the subpoena, and five Republicans who had voted to subpoena Bondi previously stood by the effort.

On the Republican side, Boebert signaled she could withdraw her support for the Bondi subpoena after the briefing, saying she was embarrassed that Bondi appeared to be forced to answer questions.

Rep. Tim Burchett dismissed Wednesday’s proceedings as all staged and argued the panel could have moved more slowly to yield results, saying that if they had gone a little slower they would have gotten there faster.

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Rep. Nancy Mace, who led the push to subpoena Bondi, insisted her support would not waver and that no one has asked her to change course.

House Oversight Chair James Comer said he plans to press ahead with all subpoenas and indicated he would consult counsel if he considered rescinding Bondi’s subpoena.

Democrats argued that DOJ offered Wednesday’s briefing to get Bondi out of a deposition under subpoena, and Rep. Robert Garcia said the committee would not participate in fake hearings and briefings to dodge sworn, under-oath testimony.

“Conservative hardliners who supported subpoenaing Attorney General Pam Bondi in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe are now indicating that they are open to changing their position after Bondi met with the panel for a briefing that turned contentious with Democrats”

CNN

Bondi said she would follow the law when she emerged from the briefing.

Comer’s subpoena cover letter described questions about the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein investigation and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

A DOJ spokesperson called the subpoena completely unnecessary and noted the department has invited lawmakers to view unredacted files and that Bondi has always been available to speak directly with Congress.

Beyond the immediate subpoena fight, the Epstein files release has drawn complaints from lawmakers on both sides who say the materials are overly redacted.

They demand greater transparency under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

CNN