The House Oversight Committee is poised to hear from former George W. Bush-era Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Tuesday, as part of a bipartisan investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial non-prosecution agreement. Gonzales, who served as Attorney General from February 2005 until mid-September 2007, is the second witness to be called in the probe, following the earlier testimony of former Attorney General William Barr. The investigation, initiated in late July, has seen a flurry of subpoenas targeting key figures, including former FBI directors Robert Mueller and James Comey, ex-attorneys general Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions, and former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The case has drawn significant attention due to the DOJ’s handling of Epstein’s legal matters, which was described as “exhaustive” but left many questions unanswered by prosecutors, including the absence of Epstein’s “client list” and the absence of any evidence linking him to prominent individuals.
Comer, in a subpoena letter to Gonzales, highlighted that his tenure as Attorney General coincided with the FBI’s investigation into Epstein for sex crimes and the drafting of a 60-count indictment by a Southern District of Florida Assistant U.S. Attorney. The non-prosecution agreement, which was finalized in 2008, was reached weeks after Gonzales left office, raising questions about his direct involvement in the negotiations. While the committee has not yet named the specific charges against Epstein, the investigation appears to be focused on examining the DOJ’s handling of the case and the decision to terminate the probe without a full prosecution. Democrats have seized on the controversy, with some calling for further transparency, while Republicans have accused them of politicizing the investigation. The bipartisan nature of the inquiry has been strained after the first witness, Barr, faced criticism from Democratic lawmakers for insufficient probing during his deposition.
The controversy has also deepened with the involvement of former Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose testimony is expected this week. Sessions, who was recently confirmed as a Senate aide, is being called to testify as part of the broader investigation into the DOJ’s handling of Epstein’s case. While his involvement may not directly address Trump’s potential role, the ongoing inquiry has sparked renewed interest in the case, particularly after the DOJ’s decision to close the investigation without charging Epstein, which many argued left critical questions unanswered. The committee remains committed to the investigation, though tensions over how the probe is conducted have underscored the political nature of the inquiry. For now, the focus remains on the former officials involved in the case, with Gonzales’ testimony expected to provide further insight into the handling of Epstein’s legal matters.