Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a House Oversight Committee deposition next week tied to the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, multiple news organizations reported Wednesday and Thursday. The committee had issued a subpoena compelling her appearance, but Bondi's office indicated she would not comply with the scheduled deposition.

In a parallel development, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been subpoenaed to testify before the House committee as part of the same inquiry. Gates's name has surfaced in connection with Epstein through previously reported interactions, though the precise scope of the committee's interest in his testimony has not been fully detailed publicly.

The House Oversight Committee's investigation into Epstein and his network has intensified in recent months, with lawmakers seeking testimony from a range of figures. Bondi's refusal to appear represents a significant point of friction between the Justice Department and congressional investigators.

NBC News reported that Bondi is no longer required to testify under the terms being pursued by the committee, though the procedural basis for that development was not immediately clarified. Axios and PBS NewsHour both confirmed the deposition would not proceed as scheduled. The BBC also reported on the developments, noting the broader implications for the investigation's momentum.

The Epstein case has remained a politically charged subject, with the public and lawmakers on both sides pressing for greater transparency about who interacted with Epstein and under what circumstances. No charges have been announced in connection with the congressional investigation, which is focused on gathering information rather than prosecuting individuals.