Bush-era attorney general to testify in House Oversight’s Epstein investigation
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Testifies in House Oversight Committee Investigation
A former attorney general under George W. Bush’s administration, Alberto Gonzales, is set to testify before House Oversight Committee investigators on Tuesday. Gonzales led the Department of Justice from February 2005 until mid-September 2007 and is the second witness called in the bipartisan House probe into Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The closed-door deposition is expected to be staff-led, with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer likely to attend. Gonzales played a key role during early discussions with Florida federal prosecutors regarding Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement, which was finalized in 2008, shortly after Gonzales left office.
Image: Jeffrey Epstein, pictured here in New York City on Feb. 23, 2011, is the subject of a bipartisan House Oversight Committee investigation. (David McGlynn)
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer highlighted the timing of Gonzales’ tenure and the signing of Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement in a subpoena cover letter earlier this month.
The committee has also issued subpoenas for depositions from former FBI directors Robert Mueller and James Comey, as well as former attorneys general Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions, and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Notably absent from the list is Alex Acosta, the former Trump Labor Secretary who approved the non-prosecution agreement with Epstein while serving as a U.S. attorney in Florida.
Image: Alberto Gonzales, pictured here in April 2013, served as attorney general from 2005 to 2007. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The renewed interest in Epstein’s case has sparked a bipartisan investigation on Capitol Hill. Following the DOJ’s closure of the case, Democrats have called for transparency, while Republicans have faced accusations of politicizing the probe.
Stay tuned for more updates as the House Oversight Committee continues its investigation into the Epstein case.
