EPSTEIN UPDATE 6 — ANOTHER DEPOSITION THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
This dispatch reflects developments from April 1, 2026, through April 17, 2026
This is our 6th dispatch on the Epstein Files and Depositions
The Epstein investigation is no longer stalled in the same places it was. Some doors are slowly moving, while others are closing.
A subpoenaed deposition came and went with no witness. A federal judge signed off on another bank settlement and new witnesses have been scheduled — some of them are names you know. The civil money keeps climbing and the criminal charges remain a big fat zero.
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ANOTHER DEPOSITION THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a sworn deposition on April 14, 2026, following a bipartisan subpoena issued in March.
Not surprising to anyone, she did not appear.
The Department of Justice informed the committee that Bondi would not show up, arguing that the subpoena was issued in her official capacity as attorney general and no longer applied after President Trump fired her on April 2.
Democrats, along with some Republicans, rejected that argument. Representatives Nancy Mace and Ro Khanna sent a letter to Chairman James Comer insisting that Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title.
“Leaving office doesn’t mean you get to dodge accountability,” Mace said. “Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by name, not by title.”
Ranking Member Robert Garcia announced that Democrats would initiate contempt proceedings following Bondi’s failure to appear. On April 17, Garcia sent another letter to Comer pressing for action, noting that Republicans had given “zero indication” they had taken steps to enforce the subpoena or reschedule the deposition.
The committee’s Republican majority said they are working to reschedule Bondi’s appearance but have provided few details.
Status: Subpoena outstanding. Deposition not rescheduled. Contempt proceedings pending.
THE MONEY: BANK OF AMERICA SETTLEMENT WINS PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
On April 2, 2026, US District Judge Jed Rakoff granted preliminary approval to Bank of America’s $72.5 million settlement with Epstein accusers. The lawsuit alleged the bank ignored suspicious financial transactions tied to Epstein because it valued profit over protecting victims. Judge Rakoff ruled in January that Bank of America must face claims that it knowingly benefited from Epstein’s sex trafficking and obstructed enforcement of federal trafficking laws.
In agreeing to settle, Bank of America did not admit wrongdoing.
A final approval hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2026. Lawyers expect between 60 and 75 women to submit claims.
The settlement brings the total recovered through civil litigation against financial institutions to $437.5 million.
Bank/Settlements/Date
JPMorgan Chase — $290 million — June 2023
Deutsche Bank — $75 million — May 2023
Bank of America — $72.5 million — March 2026
Total $437.5 million
(BNY Mellon case dismissed, appeal pending)
None of the banks admitted wrongdoing and no executive has been criminally charged.
THE DEPOSITION THAT DISAPPEARED
Leon Black, the billionaire co-founder of Apollo Global Management, was considered a “critical witness” by victims’ attorneys. He was scheduled for an 8 hr deposition on March 26, 2026, in connection with the Bank of America lawsuit.
The deposition never happened. Black did not appear after the Bank of America settlement was announced and the settlement scuttled the deposition entirely.
Black has not been charged with any crime and has denied wrongdoing. He has separately been asked to testify before the House Oversight Committee on May 13, 2026.
Status: Civil deposition canceled. House interview scheduled.
OPERATION CHAIN REACTION
A 69 page DEA memorandum tied to Epstein and alleged co-conspirators remains partially redacted and largely withheld from Congress. On March 18, 2026, Senator Ron Wyden stated that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was blocking the release of the unredacted version.
The document outlines a 2015 OCDETF investigation — codenamed “Operation Chain Reaction” — into alleged drug trafficking, prostitution, and illicit financial activity tied to Epstein and others. Reports indicate the investigation involved alleged distribution of drugs including ecstasy, methamphetamine, and ketamine.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse separately requested details on a related OCDETF operation known as “Trip Knot,” tied to money laundering and trafficking networks. Wyden argued the document is unclassified and there is “no reason” to withhold it from Congress.
Status: Unredacted file withheld. No public release date.
TOVA NOEL — RESCHEDULED
Read out piece that goes more into Tova:
Tova Noel, the correctional officer on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died, was originally scheduled for a House Oversight Committee interview on March 26, 2026. No public transcript of that interview has yet been released to the public.
On April 7, 2026, Scripps News reported that Noel has been rescheduled for a transcribed interview on May 18, 2026.
In 2019, prosecutors charged Noel with conspiracy and falsification of records, accusing her and another guard of failing to conduct required inmate checks during the overnight shift when Epstein died. Noel entered a deferred prosecution agreement that allowed her to avoid jail time.
Please read our article at the top of this section as there are a lot of detail being skipped here.
The committee has also expressed interest in a $5,000 deposit Noel made 11 days before Epstein’s death that a bank flagged as suspicious.
Status: Interview scheduled for May 18, 2026.
WHAT ELSE IS SCHEDULED
The House Oversight Committee has lined up a series of transcribed interviews in the coming months, according to sources familiar with the investigation:
Ted Waitt April 30, 2026
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick May 6, 2026
Leon Black May 13, 2026
Tova Noel May 18, 2026
Lesley Groff (Epstein’s executive assistant) June 9, 2026
Bill Gates June 10, 2026
Sources: Scripps News, MS NOW
Chairman James Comer told Newsmax on April 17 that the committee has “5 to 8 more scheduled depositions” involving high profile figures named in the Epstein Files, and that the next phase could include sworn testimony from victims.
WHAT REMAINS
$437.5 million has been paid through civil settlements. Judge Rakoff has given preliminary approval to the Bank of America agreement, and a final hearing is set for Augustof this year.
A subpoenaed deposition from a former attorney general did not happenontempt proceedings have been threatened but not yet initiated. The committee says it is working to reschedule.
A 69 page DEA file remains withheld from Congress. The Justice Department has blocked its release.
Key testimony from Leon Black never entered the public record — the deposition was canceled entirely after the bank settled.
New witnesses have been scheduled. Some of them are powerful people. Some of them are still in office.
The question is no longer whether the record is incomplete.
It’s whether anyone will be compelled to complete it.
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