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.
Hold Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress.
Occurrences
Oversight Democrats are committed to uncovering the truth and holding this Administration accountable
she ... introduced articles of impeachment against former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to immediately resign
filed a resolution to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in civil contempt of Congress
We have introduced a contempt resolution, to hold her accountable.
If Ms. Bondi refuses to answer questions, we must compel her testimony.
Today we filed contempt charges against Pam Bondi to hold her accountable for defying her legal obligation to testify on her handling of the Epstein files
If she doesn’t show up, she will face contempt.
Evidence
Rep. Robert Garcia and all Democratic Members of the Committee filed a resolution to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in civil contempt of Congress after she failed to appear for her subpoenaed deposition. The page says the resolution would instruct the House to go to court to compel Bondi's testimony and notes that Bondi refused to appear on April 14, 2026.
The resolution text submitted by Mr. Garcia directs the committee chair to initiate or intervene in federal court proceedings to seek declaratory and injunctive relief compelling Pamela J. Bondi to comply with her subpoena. The PDF shows the measure was submitted and referred, not adopted.
Garcia wrote that after Bondi failed to appear on April 14, Oversight Democrats introduced a resolution to enforce the subpoena, and that Republican staff said Bondi would appear on May 29, 2026 in a transcribed interview rather than a deposition. Garcia wrote that if Bondi refuses to cooperate, she should be compelled.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Oversight Committee on May 29 and said Todd Blanche was responsible for overseeing the Epstein-file release; the report says she acknowledged redaction errors and denied personally leading the review.
On June 9, the House Oversight Committee was still holding Epstein-related witness testimony, with Lesley Groff appearing before the panel as part of the ongoing probe.
Assessments
Robert Garcia materially advanced a contempt effort by filing a civil contempt resolution and pushing enforcement of the Bondi subpoena, but the record shows no adopted resolution, no House contempt vote, and no contempt finding. Bondi instead appeared in a transcribed oversight interview, so the promised outcome was not actually delivered during his current term.
Garcia materially advanced the promise by leading Oversight Democrats in filing a civil contempt/enforcement resolution after Pam Bondi failed to appear for a subpoenaed deposition. However, the evidence shows the resolution was only introduced/referred and negotiations over Bondi's appearance were still pending, with no House adoption, court enforcement, or completed contempt finding. That is a serious attempt, but not fulfillment of holding Bondi in contempt of Congress.