House Oversight Committee Republicans want the Justice Department to open new investigations into sexual assault allegations against Jeffrey Epstein’s associates, just weeks before Democrats take over the panel and promise to dig deeper into the disgraced financier’s world.
The demand came Tuesday in a report wrapping up Republicans’ 15-month probe of Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021, and how federal prosecutors handled the case, Bloomberg reported. Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said the government had failed Epstein’s victims.
“The evidence we uncovered makes clear that the Department of Justice must interview or re-interview key witnesses, investigate Epstein associates accused of criminal activity, and ensure survivors have access to their records,” Comer said in a statement.
Among its recommendations, the report calls on Congress to free sexual assault victims bound by nondisclosure agreements to talk about what happened to them. It also says banks did not do enough to act on warning signs in Epstein’s finances.
Republicans said their review of records from Epstein’s estate, the U.S. Virgin Islands, JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank and the Justice Department turned up no evidence implicating President Donald Trump in a crime.
Democrats have accused the committee of going soft on Trump and his allies, while Republicans say Democrats are fixated on the president. Witnesses called in over the course of the probe included Bill and Hillary Clinton, who gave video testimony, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black. All have denied wrongdoing, according to Bloomberg.
Democrats say they’re just getting started. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), in line to chair the committee in January, said Epstein will be a top priority, and last week he posted “LAWYER UP” in a message aimed at his investigative targets. Incoming Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Monday he plans to investigate big banks tied to Epstein.
Trump campaigned on releasing the Justice Department’s Epstein files, but the department reversed course after he took office, a shift that has divided his supporters. Democrats take subpoena power on the committee in January.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) also said Monday that he would investigate major banks with ties to Epstein.
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