Pam Bondi told Trump his name is in Epstein files; Lawmakers demand testimony

Trump’s past association with Epstein is well-documented, including appearances on 1990s flight logs of Epstein’s private jet and entries in his contact book. Even during Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial, Epstein’s pilot testified that Trump flew on the plane multiple times, though Trump has denied those claims.

Despite public interest and conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s client list, the DOJ recently declared that no further investigation was warranted.

Trump has not been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection to Epstein.

Lawmakers demand Bondi testify before Congress

Bondi is now facing calls from lawmakers to testify before Congress regarding her disclosure to Trump. Senator Adam Schiff publicly stated that both Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel should appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now,” Schiff said in a video posted on X.

We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this. Now. pic.twitter.com/yubt72Iqi1

— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) July 23, 2025

A joint DOJ statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended their handling of the briefing: “Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution… As part of our routine briefing, we made the President aware of the findings.”

Statement from @DAGToddBlanche:

This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead. The joint statement by @TheJusticeDept and @FBI of July 6 remains as accurate today as it was when… pic.twitter.com/uosIvk1818

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) July 22, 2025

House oversight subcommittee subpoenas DOJ for Epstein file

In a rare bipartisan move, the House Oversight subcommittee voted 8–2 on Wednesday to subpoena the DOJ for all Epstein-related case files. The panel included support from three Republicans alongside five Democrats.

Chairman Clay Higgins confirmed that the subpoena was being drafted. The vote took place hours before Congress adjourned for its August recess, a move Speaker Mike Johnson expedited to avoid floor tensions on the Epstein issue.

A subpoena is a legal order requiring an individual or organisation to appear before a court or congressional hearing to provide testimony or produce documents. Failure to comply with a subpoena can result in legal penalties, including fines or imprisonment.

Earlier Wednesday, US District Judge Robin Rosenberg denied a DOJ motion to unseal grand jury transcripts from Florida investigations into Epstein dating back to 2005 and 2007. The judge ruled the request did not meet any of the legal exceptions allowing for grand jury material to be made public.

A similar request remains pending in New York, where the DOJ is seeking to unseal grand jury records related to Epstein’s later indictments and Maxwell’s prosecution.

Maxwell may be called to testify before Congress

With pressure mounting, Congress is also exploring whether to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking. If called, Maxwell would join a list of convicted individuals whose congressional testimony altered the course of public discourse.

The Trump administration has faced backlash from some of its most loyal supporters for not delivering on campaign promises to release Epstein-related documents. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that more than two-thirds of Americans believe the administration is hiding information about Epstein’s clients.

(With inputs from AP, Reuters)