Democrats walk out of Pam Bondi briefing on Epstein files over subpoena compliance

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the attorney general on Tuesday. The Justice Department called it "completely unnecessary."

House Democrats walked out of a closed-door hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday while she was briefing lawmakers on the Epstein files a day after being subpoenaed to testify in mid-April.

Democratic members of the Republican-led House Oversight Committee told reporters that Bondi, who was joined by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, would not commit to complying with the subpoena for her sworn testimony April 14 to answer questions about the Justice Department's handling of records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the panel, said Bondi "refused on multiple occasions to commit to following the subpoena."

After the briefing, Bondi told reporters that she "made it crystal clear I will follow the law," when asked about whether she would comply with the subpoena.

The X account for Republicans on the committee said in a post that "Bondi stated she would follow the law regarding her subpoena."