Pam Bondi is reportedly making an attempt to spin her unceremonious journey into the dustbin of historical past into an excuse to *not* testify earlier than Congress. The now-former Lawyer Normal was subpoenaed to seem earlier than the Home Oversight Committee final month. In a uncommon bipartisan second fueled by the precept that “this appears unhealthy” (typically) transcends get together strains, 5 Republicans on the committee joined the Dems to demand solutions over Bondi’s dealing with of the Epstein recordsdata.
However assistant lawyer common Patrick Davis wrote to the committee to “kindly ask that you simply affirm that the subpoena is withdrawn,” and that the DOJ “continues to imagine that further obligatory course of is pointless in gentle of our demonstrated willingness to voluntarily help your oversight efforts.” And a spokesperson for the Division mentioned, “Due to the management transition on the Division, the subpoena not applies.”
Which, I suppose in case you by no means ask the reply is at all times no. However, let’s be so fucking for actual proper now, that argument is about as persuasive as a toddler claiming bedtime “not applies” as a result of they became completely different pajamas. Unsurprisingly, the committee shouldn’t be shopping for what DOJ is promoting on the clearance rack of accountability — they’ve already confirmed they’ll attain out to her private lawyer. “The Division of Justice has acknowledged Pam Bondi won’t seem on April 14 for a deposition since she is not Lawyer Normal and was subpoenaed in her capability as Lawyer Normal,” a spokeswoman for Oversight Republicans mentioned in an announcement. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s private counsel to debate subsequent steps relating to scheduling her deposition.”
Plus the committee has already heard testimony from, ahem, former Lawyer Normal Invoice Barr, proving that “ex-A.G.” shouldn’t be, in truth, a cloak of invisibility. And prime Democrat on the committee Rep. Richard Garcia made IT clear he’s not going to let this go. “She should are available to testify instantly, and if she defies the subpoena, we are going to start contempt fees within the Congress,” he mentioned. “The survivors deserve justice.” Rep. James Walkinshaw famous the subpoena “didn’t turn into null and void when she was fired.”
Republican Nancy Mace additionally had sturdy phrases for the flimsy excuse. “Leaving workplace doesn’t imply you get to dodge accountability,” Mace mentioned in an announcement. “Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by identify, not by title, and since the DOJ stonewalled Congress and refused to observe the legislation, she wants to seem earlier than the Oversight Committee and reply for IT.”
“She promised she would comply,” she mentioned. “April 14 is her likelihood to show IT. Chairman Comer should make one factor clear: present up or face contempt.”
The committee positive appears like they’re able to go all in to point out Bondi you possibly can’t ghost Congress like a foul Hinge date.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Regulation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the perfect, so please join along with her. Be happy to e mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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