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Comer takes heat over arrangements for Bondi interview on Epstein files

Leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee clashed over the terms of former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appearance behind closed doors Friday, and Democrats criticized committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) for agreeing to a voluntary interview.

Bondi was subpoenaed to testify in March, but Comer agreed to let Bondi sit for a written interview, a different format in which subjects are not sworn and the interview is not videotaped.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the interview Friday, Comer explained that Bondi had come “voluntarily” for a second time and also noted that Democrats had previously held a closed-door meeting with the panel in what he described as an effort to circumvent the subpoena.

“He came in for a briefing a few months ago. Unfortunately, the Democrats stood up and walked out of that briefing. Many of the Republicans spent several hours asking him questions during that briefing, and I’m grateful that he volunteered to come back for a written interview today,” Comer said.

Ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) criticized Comer for allowing a format in which Bondi would appear without being videotaped.

“I want to make clear that we continue to be incredibly disappointed in the decision that this interview was not videotaped and subsequently released to the American public. The second thing we asked Chairman Comer was to make sure this interview was under oath. We understand that the attorney general will be there to answer Congress’ questions, but it should have been under oath and videotaped,” he said.

Comer emphasized that lying to Congress, whether under oath or not, is a crime, but during the press conference he was pressed to address the concerns of a group of Epstein victims who said the meeting should have been videotaped.

“If there are questions that are not being asked, if there is anything that you are not happy with, let us know and we will do everything we can to get answers for all of you,” he told the group.

After Comer left, survivors repeated that they wanted to see a taped interview.

“I also want to make a note about the importance of body language and vocal intonation,” said Danielle Bensky, one of Epstein’s survivors. “There’s something we all know about called subtext, and we have no idea when the interview is transcribed. It can be completely lost in translation, so it’s incredibly vital that we see the filmed interviews, not just the sworn transcription.”

Lauren Hersh, CEO of World Without Exploitation, who accompanied the survivors, said the written interviews were “unacceptable.”

“We need to see body language. We want to see pauses. We know that these witnesses can go off the record and events that the American people can’t see can come out off the record, and we think that’s critically important right now,” he said.

“Mayor Comer is absolutely right. These women have been failed by many administrations, that’s true, but we need truth, transparency, and ultimately accountability right now.”

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