The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday released the first tranche of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, complying with a congressional subpoena demanding the full set of files.
In addition to providing the documents to lawmakers, the DOJ also made public a transcript and audio recording of a recent interview with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The interview was conducted last month by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche after backlash over an earlier DOJ and FBI decision not to release further Epstein-related materials.
“The House Oversight Committee has received the Department of Justice’s first production of Epstein records pursuant to Chairman James Comer’s subpoena. The production contains thousands of pages of documents,” a Republican committee spokesperson said Friday.
Maxwell, who is currently serving a sentence for sex trafficking and has petitioned President Trump for a pardon or commutation, told DOJ officials during her interview that she “never saw” Trump “in any inappropriate setting.”
Political Battle Over Records
The records were delivered several days after the committee’s original deadline, but Oversight Republicans nonetheless welcomed the disclosure.
“The Trump DOJ is providing records at a far quicker pace than anything the Biden DOJ ever provided,” the GOP spokesperson said, contrasting the current department’s cooperation with what they described as past obstruction under former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) emphasized that the panel plans to release the records after reviewing them for sensitive material. “This is sensitive information. We want to make sure we don’t do anything that [will] harm or jeopardize any victims that were involved in this. But we’re going to be transparent,” Comer told reporters Thursday.
The committee said it will consult with the DOJ to ensure that no release of records interferes with ongoing cases or investigations.
Democrats Push for Full Release
Democrats on the committee have criticized the DOJ’s decision to provide documents in stages. Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) accused the department of dragging its feet. “The American People will not accept anything short of the full, unredacted Epstein files,” Garcia said earlier this week.
The bipartisan push for disclosure followed intense backlash to a July memo from the DOJ and FBI, which stated that no further Epstein files would be released. That announcement triggered criticism across the political spectrum — with conservatives alleging the government was shielding powerful individuals tied to Epstein, and Democrats focusing on Trump’s connections to the disgraced financier.
Subpoenas and Testimony
Earlier this month, the Oversight Committee voted to subpoena the DOJ for the Epstein files. The motion originated with Democrats on a subcommittee, but three Republicans joined them in supporting the move. Comer issued the subpoena in August.
The panel has also issued subpoenas for testimony from several former high-ranking federal officials. The first deposition, with former Attorney General Bill Barr, was held Monday. Other subpoenas have gone to former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and multiple former attorneys general and FBI directors.
Next Steps
Additional batches of documents are expected in the coming weeks. The Oversight Committee has pledged to move quickly but carefully in processing the files before making them public.
0 Comments