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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced plans to release 34,000 pages of government documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, making them publicly available as quickly as possible. This announcement came after Rep. Comer met with six women who were victims of Epstein’s trafficking operation at the Capitol.
The push for transparency comes amid bipartisan efforts in Congress to force the release of all files related to the Epstein case and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are co-sponsoring legislation that would compel the Justice Department to release all documents in their possession related to Epstein. Their bill would require Attorney General Pam Bondi to turn over all relevant records and documents.
Democrats have accused the Justice Department of concealing files to protect potential wrongdoing by President Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein. However, Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in an interview that she never witnessed Mr. Trump in any inappropriate setting and described him as “a gentleman in all respects.”
The victims who met with lawmakers are planning a press conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill, while Rep. Massie and Rep. Khanna will hold their own news conference on the Capitol steps with Epstein victims, including some who have never previously shared their stories publicly. Rep. Massie indicated they need 218 signatures to force a vote on their binding legislation.
Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting prosecution for sex trafficking crimes. Maxwell is currently seeking to have her conviction overturned and is also hoping for clemency from President Trump. Victims have criticized the Justice Department’s decision to work with Maxwell in their investigation.
A federal judge recently denied the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Epstein case, calling the DOJ’s request “a diversion” from the extensive files the government already possesses and could release publicly.
Rep. Comer plans to interview Maxwell and examine additional witnesses and bank statements to uncover illegal activity and hold accountable those who victimized the women.
Read more: House plans to make Epstein files public
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