House Oversight releases redacted batch of Epstein files
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Rep. Comer speaks to a reporter at the Capitol on May 6. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 documents on Tuesday related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that the Justice Department shared with the panel in August.
Why it matters: The release delivers on months of pressure to make the Epstein files public. It could sap momentum from GOP rebels pushing their own discharge petition to release the files.
Catch up quick: The DOJ sent "thousands of pages" of records to the Oversight Committee in August as a result of a subpoena, with more files on the way.
- But the panel's top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), said the majority of the documents shared are already public.
- Oversight has lined up depositions with Bill and Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, and, newly added, former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, as part of its probe.
- Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) also subpoenaed Epstein's estate for records last week, including a "birthday book" reportedly prepared by Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell. The deadline for that subpoena is Sept. 8.
What's next: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also on Tuesday formally filed his long-awaited discharge petition, which, if signed by 218 House members, would force a vote on releasing the files.
- It's unclear if he can still rally enough of his GOP colleagues now that Oversight has publicized the documents — though Massie remained confident.
- "My staff has done a quick look at it, and it looks like a bunch of redacted documents and nothing new, so it's not going to suffice," he told Axios.
- Massie, as he was speaking to Axios, turned to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and asked if he'd signed the petition. "Not yet," the former Freedom Caucus chair said.
Notably, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told Axios that she still planned to sign the petition.
- "I'm for every form of releasing information. Transparency all the way," Greene told Axios.
The other side: Democrats argued that the release is a red herring aimed at taking the wind out of Massie's efforts without actually publishing anything substantive.
- "There's really no [Epstein] investigation on the Oversight Committee," Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a member of the panel, told reporters.
- "If one's going to start now and we're going to demand these documents, then I welcome it. But it is just false to say that the Oversight Committee has been engaged in some grand investigation. No we haven't."
- Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told Axios he doesn't think a discharge petition is needed now: "The point is moot."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
