Scoop: Dems think they can get ahold of Epstein's birthday book
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Rep. Ro Khanna at a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on July 18, 2023. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
House Democrats are trying to get their hands on the now-infamous book celebrating Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday after it was suggested the disgraced financier's estate is in possession of it, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: As the minority party in Congress, Democrats have been largely toothless in their attempts to investigate President Trump. They believe this is a rare opportunity to obtain concrete information.
- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who is leading the effort alongside Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), said it would be "very difficult" to obtain the book if the Justice Department had it.
- "In this case, you literally have a private attorney," he told Axios. "A private attorney is much more likely to comply. It's a much easier challenge than going after the administration."
Driving the news: Khanna and Garcia wrote to attorneys for the Epstein estate's executors asking for a "complete, unredacted copy" of the book, according to a copy of their letter obtained by Axios.
- Citing Wall Street Journal reporting that Trump submitted a poem and drawing for the book, the lawmakers wrote that it may be "essential" for a probe of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein matter.
- Trump has denied the Wall Street Journal's reporting and sued the outlet for libel.
What they're saying: "We write with deep concern regarding potential public corruption, abuse of power, and failures in the federal law enforcement response to the Epstein case," Khanna and Garcia wrote.
- They argued that members of the Oversight Committee should be permitted to review the book before deposing Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who reportedly put it together.
- "Information gathered from this document may also inform the development of legislative reforms addressing sex trafficking networks, financial regulation, or other critical matters," they added.
State of play: Brad Edwards, a lawyer for over 200 of Epstein's victims, said in an MSNBC appearance Thursday, "I know the executors of the estate are in possession of that book."
- "If somebody simply called" Epstein's executors "and said, 'Give us the book,' they would probably give you the book," Edwards said.
- "They have attorneys, their attorneys are good people. If they didn't just voluntarily turn over the book out of fear of reprisal, Congress could just issue a subpoena to their attorneys ... they would turn the book over immediately."
- The three attorneys for Epstein's executors did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Axios.
What's next: Khanna and Garcia asked that Epstein's estate turn over the book by August 10.
- Khanna told Axios: "I will make sure, if we get it, that whatever we do in terms of releasing it is what the victims want, what the victims' attorney wants, and not just trying to score partisan points."
- "If the victims don't want certain things, I am going to guarantee that the victims are the topmost consideration," he said. "But I do believe that they will want some of it released and once we get it, we can."
Go deeper: "Such bulls**t": Not every Democrat wants to talk about Epstein
