Bondi, Epstein, Congress’s Duty to Enforce the Law Using Inherent Contempt

I am writing to urge you to publicly support and act in favor of Congress using its inherent contempt power to enforce compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act—specifically in response to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s ongoing failure to meet the law’s requirements. This should not be a partisan issue. Regardless of party, Americans expect that when Congress passes a law, the executive branch follows it. In this case, deadlines have been missed, productions have been incomplete, and documents have been so heavily redacted that they appear to undermine the very transparency the statute was meant to guarantee—particularly with respect to powerful individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Congress has multiple tools to enforce compliance, but two of them are clearly ineffective here. Civil enforcement would take years in court. Criminal contempt requires referral to the Department of Justice, which has little incentive to prosecute its own leadership. That leaves inherent contempt, a lawful and historically grounded authority that allows Congress to act directly to enforce its will. Inherent contempt is not extreme, unconstitutional, or novel. The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized it as an essential implied power of Congress, necessary to protect its legislative and oversight responsibilities. It was used frequently in earlier periods of American history—particularly when executive officials refused to comply with lawful congressional demands. Importantly, this effort has drawn bipartisan interest, reflecting a shared concern that executive officials must not be allowed to ignore statutes through delay, selective compliance, or excessive redaction. The House has the authority to act on its own, without waiting for the Senate or the Justice Department, and it can impose proportionate consequences—such as daily fines—until the law is followed. This is not about political revenge or theater. It is about maintaining the constitutional balance of power. If Congress allows this kind of noncompliance to stand, it sets a precedent that future administrations of either party can exploit, weakening oversight and accountability for everyone. The victims and survivors of Epstein’s crimes deserve transparency. The American people deserve confidence that the law applies equally to the powerful and the well-connected. And Congress deserves to have its laws respected. I urge you to speak out publicly in favor of inherent contempt and to support its use if necessary to compel full compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Upholding the rule of law should unite us, not divide us.