The House Oversight Committee is escalating its investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, issuing a subpoena Monday to the estate of the late sex trafficker for unredacted documents and communications related to his activities.
Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said the committee seeks to determine whether federal agencies mishandled Epstein’s prosecution, investigate the circumstances of his death in federal custody, and examine broader issues tied to sex-trafficking networks.
“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials,” Comer said in a statement.
Comer added that the estate of Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, “is ready and willing to provide these documents” once compelled by subpoena.
Acosta to Testify in September
The Oversight Committee also announced that Alex Acosta, the former U.S. Attorney for South Florida, will testify voluntarily in September. Acosta oversaw the controversial 2008 plea agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution and serve just 13 months in a Florida jail for state-level sex offenses.
The deal, widely criticized as excessively lenient, included shutting down an FBI investigation into Epstein’s activities. Acosta later served as Secretary of Labor under President Trump but resigned in 2019 amid renewed scrutiny of the plea deal.
High-Profile Names Under Scrutiny
As part of the inquiry, Comer has issued subpoenas to several former attorneys general, FBI directors, and prominent political figures including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Rather than appearing in person, former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, and Eric Holder will provide written declarations stating they have no relevant information about Epstein.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who led the Justice Department from 2019 to 2020, testified last week that he never saw evidence linking President Trump to Epstein’s criminal activities.
Comer is also negotiating testimony with Epstein’s longtime associate and accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking minors.
Political Fallout
Maxwell recently gave an interview to the Justice Department, during which she praised President Trump but disclosed little new information. Her cooperation comes as she pursues a possible pardon from the president.
The Justice Department faced backlash last year after the Trump administration declined to release the government’s full “Epstein files,” despite Trump’s campaign promise to do so in 2024. The decision angered many of Trump’s supporters until reporting by The Wall Street Journal revealed a previously undisclosed letter Trump wrote to Epstein for his 50th birthday.
That report, which also noted that Trump’s name appeared in the files but that he is not accused of wrongdoing, prompted the president to file a lawsuit against the newspaper.
Trump and Epstein were social acquaintances in the 1990s and early 2000s, before Epstein’s conviction in Florida. President Trump has consistently denied any illegal involvement with Epstein, and no evidence has tied him to Epstein’s trafficking operation.
Epstein’s Death Remains Contentious
Epstein died in August 2019 while awaiting trial in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. His death, officially ruled a suicide, has fueled widespread speculation due to Epstein’s ties to powerful political and business figures.
A federal review concluded that Epstein acted alone and that there was no secret “client list,” noting that the financier’s high-profile associates have already been identified through litigation and investigative reporting.
0 Comments