Committee Moves to Obtain Epstein Records
The House Oversight Committee has issued nearly a dozen subpoenas seeking files and testimony related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The action comes amid mounting pressure in Congress for transparency around the case.
The panel is demanding that the Justice Department turn over any Epstein-related files, with victims’ names redacted, as well as communications between former Biden administration officials and the DOJ regarding the case.
High-Profile Figures Subpoenaed
Ten individuals have been subpoenaed for closed-door depositions scheduled from August through October:
- Former Attorneys General Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Alberto Gonzales
- Former FBI Director James Comey
- Former special counsel Robert Mueller
- Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton
- Former President Bill Clinton
The committee seeks insight into their leadership periods at the DOJ and FBI during investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Broader Context and Political Tension
House Oversight Chair James Comer issued the subpoenas after bipartisan support emerged to release more information. Some Republicans have framed the move as defiance of Speaker Mike Johnson, who has urged Congress to give the Trump administration time to manage the issue, including efforts to unseal grand jury materials.
Maxwell, sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking and abuse of minors, has been separately subpoenaed but will testify only after the Supreme Court considers her appeal.
Growing Pressure in Congress
The Epstein case continues to draw attention on Capitol Hill. Calls to release the so-called “Epstein files” have fueled debates over transparency and accountability for high-profile figures who had contact with Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee has signaled it intends to pursue the matter aggressively in the coming months.
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