Rep. Summer Lee Moves to Hold Pam Bondi in Contempt for Failing to Comply with Subpoena to Release Epstein Files
WASHINGTON, D.C. – JANUARY 21, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, introduced an amendment to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in civil contempt for noncompliance with the Oversight Committee’s subpoena to release the Jeffery Epstein files. In accordance with the subpoena, the Department of Justice has been legally compelled to release the full, unredacted Epstein files since August 19, 2025.
Rep. Lee’s amendment comes during an Oversight Committee markup where she voted to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton accountable for not attending their depositions compelled by the Committee’s subpoena. Rep. Lee has consistently advocated to hear from anyone with information on Epstein’s crimes, regardless of party.
In July, Rep. Lee forced a motion to subpoena the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files, and it passed with an 8-2 vote with bipartisan support. The Oversight Committee issued the subpoena in August and yet only one percent of the Epstein files have been released, much of which has been redacted.
A copy of the Congresswoman’s remarks introducing the amendment is below and a video can be found here.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Summer Lee Moves to Hold Pam Bondi in Contempt for Failing to Comply with Subpoena to Release Epstein Files
House Oversight Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
January 21, 2026
I think we need to speak plainly and lay the facts out on what is really happening in this Committee. We are one week out from when Bill and Hillary Clinton did not show for their depositions. One week and we’re already having a markup to hold them in contempt.
Meanwhile the Department of Justice has been legally obligated to hand over the full, unredacted Epstein files to this Committee since August. The same exact subpoena that they are using to hold the Clintons in contempt. And please note, that these resolutions are allowing the DOJ to prosecute the Clintons for the exact same thing that the DOJ itself is violating. They have handed over one percent of the files and heavily redacted.
We are five months overdue, Mr. Comer. You have made no effort to bring in Pam Bondi. So no, the difference is not clear. You have made no effort to demand any answers, to exert any type of pressure.
So with that, Mr. Chair, I do have an amendment at the desk which would hold Pam Bondi in contempt for noncompliance with the bipartisan subpoena that you issued on August 5, 2025. I hope that my colleagues will support.
I yield back.
Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship,