Congressional panel unveils batch of Epstein documents amid escalating controversy preceding Washington's political resurrection
In a move aimed at shedding more light on the Jeffrey Epstein case, the House leadership has added a symbolic vote to the chamber's calendar, calling on the Oversight Committee to continue its investigation into the Epstein files.
The files, which include flight logs, court filings, jail surveillance footage, redacted records, depositions, and memos, have been a subject of interest for many, fueling intrigue in the Epstein case.
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, who is pushing for the publication of the case files in full, has formally introduced his resolution to force the Justice Department to release the files. This move has breathed new life into the issue, with Massie expressing confidence that he and his Democratic cosponsor, Rep. Ro Khanna, could get the 218 signatures needed to circumvent leadership and force a vote on the House floor.
Massie, however, criticized this move as not "wide enough," citing the need for a full House vote on the matter. His sentiments were echoed by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who expressed support for Massie's resolution.
The House Oversight Committee has already released tens of thousands of Epstein-related files from the Justice Department. In a recent closed-door meeting, Johnson and members of the Oversight Committee met with six Epstein victims, described as an emotional and informative encounter.
Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury criticized Johnson for not wanting to expand the investigation into Epstein beyond the Oversight panel. However, members in the meeting with victims expressed a desire for more information to be released, while ensuring that certain private details are protected.
The release may not represent the totality of the Epstein-related documents in the Justice Department's possession. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, stated that 97% of the documents were already public.
Johnson vowed for transparency in releasing information to the public, stating that President Donald Trump shares the same perspective. However, a White House official stated that helping Massie and Liberal Democrats with their attention-seeking, while the DOJ is fully supporting a more comprehensive file release effort from the Oversight Committee, would be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration.
Bipartisan agreement was reached in the meeting to subpoena more individuals based on the names that came up in the conversation with the victims. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna believes all of the files will be released and is open to signing onto Massie's effort if necessary.
House Republicans advocate for maximum transparency in the release of Epstein files, with a focus on protecting victims. The files have caused a wedge between President Donald Trump and his own party, with the issue continuing to spark debate and calls for further investigation.
Massie and Khanna will hold a press conference with Epstein victims advocating for the release of files. The event promises to be a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the Epstein case.
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