Democratic House representatives criticized the release of a voluminous set of files on the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, saying they contain little new information while redoubling demands for the full release of all files.
The House Oversight Committee examining the Epstein probe released some 34,000 documents it received from the Department of Justice (DOJ), posting them on the internet.
Why It Matters
Epstein’s 2019 death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges only fueled public mistrust and theories surrounding the sex offender’s life and crimes. For many lawmakers, the stakes go beyond history or accountability.
They see the continued secrecy as an affront to victims and a failure to fully explain why Epstein was able to operate for so long. Pressure is mounting in Congress for lawmakers to compel the DOJ to release all records related to Epstein and Maxwell, with only the personal information of victims withheld.
The debate over the Epstein files has become not just about transparency, but focuses on the ability of Congress to confront an ugly chapter in U.S. justice protocol and ensure it is never repeated.
What To Know
Tuesday’s release of tens of thousands of pages and videos to a basic Google Drive has done little to silence the calls from Democrats for full disclosure.
“Most of the documents that were sent to our committee—those initial documents—were given to right-wing influencers back in February,” Representative Robert Garcia of California told a committee hearing.
“Release all the files NOW,” he added in a post to X.
Democratic Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts also said nearly everything distributed on Tuesday had already been released.
“They are doing everything in their power to muddy the waters. RELEASE. THE. FILES,” he said in a post to X.
Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the documents were being released and he criticized Democrats for trying to “score political points” on a bipartisan issue.
The chairman said that every Republican member of Congress wanted to see the Epstein files released and accountability for any government official involved in a potential cover-up.
“We want to know the truth and to know everything we can,” he told the hearing, adding that he wanted to applaud the transparency of President Donald Trump‘s administration.
“This administration is producing documents like we asked,” he said.
The files released on Tuesday included video appearing to be bodycam footage from police searches as well as recordings and summaries of law enforcement interviews with victims detailing the abuse they said they endured.
House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill that would require the DOJ to release all the information on Epstein, with the exception of the victims’ personal information.
What People Are Saying
Comer told the committee hearing: “We’re in the process of uploading those documents for full transparency so everyone in America can see those documents.”
Garcia said in a statement: “The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to ‘release’ were already mostly public information. To the American people — don’t let this fool you.”
What Happens Next
Tuesday’s release of documents raised questions about why the DOJ had not simply disclosed the documents directly to the public rather than funneling them through Congress.
Sharp disagreements remain over how Congress should proceed. Johnson wants the inquiry to remain with the House Oversight Committee and has drafted a resolution directing the panel to publicly release its findings when ready. Others say that approach risks keeping critical documents under wraps and delays a fuller accounting.
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