The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote next week on making public files linked to the investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case. This move follows months of opposition from Republican leaders. The House is obligated to consider the bill after a petition garnered the required 218 signatures. Recent documents have raised new queries about Epstein and his associates, including an email from 2019 where Epstein claimed President Donald Trump “knew about the girls.”
The White House has accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to tarnish the image of the Republican president. Trump and Epstein had a years-long acquaintance, with Trump mentioning that he cut ties with Epstein in the early 2000s. Speculation has been rife for years regarding Epstein’s activities, demise, and connections to influential figures such as Trump, former President Bill Clinton, tech moguls, celebrities, and academics.
Representatives Ro Khanna (Democrat-California) and Thomas Massie (Republican-Kentucky) introduced a petition in July to prompt a vote on their bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The initiative garnered support from all House Democrats and four Republicans, including Massie, Lauren Boebert (Colorado), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), and Nancy Mace (South Carolina). Democrat Adelita Grijalva of Arizona signed the petition immediately after being sworn in, tipping the signatures to the required 218 mark for a majority in the House.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized President Trump for allegedly pressuring Republicans to thwart the release of the files, amid reports that Boebert met with White House officials to prevent reaching the required 218 signatures. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana announced expediting the petition process to bring the bill to the House floor early next week.
The bill mandates the Justice Department to disclose all files and communications related to Epstein, along with details on the investigation into his death in federal custody. Information on Epstein’s victims or ongoing federal probes can be redacted as per the bill. However, redactions for reasons such as embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity involving any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary are not permitted.
The fate of the bill hinges on the support it receives on the House floor. If everyone who signed the petition backs it, the bill will pass. Potential additional Republican votes could sway the outcome as the bill progresses. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer suggested the bill will be voted on next week, anticipating media attention to shift post-vote.
In case the bill fails to pass, the Epstein saga is unlikely to fade away. Trump’s involvement and the handling of information could impact the narrative. Trump has indicated he asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Epstein’s ties with Bill Clinton and other Democratic donors. The House oversight committee continues its Epstein inquiry, issuing subpoenas to notable figures for testimony, including the Clintons, James Comey, and past U.S. attorneys general linked to Epstein’s case.
Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for various charges, was also subpoenaed. The committee withdrew a subpoena for Robert Mueller due to health reasons. The committee seeks to speak with Prince Andrew, who cannot be subpoenaed. A memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who previously worked at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, was published posthumously. Both Giuffre and Maxwell have made statements regarding Trump’s involvement, with Maxwell affirming she never witnessed any inappropriate behavior by Trump. Trump’s potential veto of the bill and ongoing investigations suggest the Epstein saga is far from over.