Epstein probe chaos: The latest and when to expect new details

• Multiple members of Congress pushed to release the files before recessing in August. Now, they're back in Washington, D.C., seeking more transparency.
• President Trump, who had ties to the late Epstein, called the entire investigation a "hoax." The Trump administration has repeatedly faced criticism over the release of the Epstein files, a major campaign issue for Trump's MAGA base.
• Accusers of Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, continue to speak out against the late financier and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

Here's what's happening and what might actually yield new information.

Discharge petition for full Epstein files

Catch up quick: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have pushed for the release of the Epstein files since July, when they introduced legislation that would require the Department of Justice to release all the Epstein files within 30 days.

• But Congress went into recess before voting on the legislation, setting the stage for a fall squabble over the Epstein probe.

The latest: Massie filed a discharge petition Tuesday to encourage the House to vote on forcing the full release of the Epstein files to the public.

• The discharge petition enables half the House (218 members) to provide their signature so they could bypass leadership and force a floor vote to compel the DOJ to release all files related to the Epstein probe.
• If the votes are there, there's a seven-day wait before the petition can be introduced. Then the House speaker has two days to call it up for a floor vote. Any action won't be immediate.

State of play: Khanna told NPR on Tuesday that he's confident the 212 Democrats will vote in favor. He also suggested six Republicans would support the move.

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told Axios that she plans to sign the petition.

Epstein accusers to create their own list

Massie and Khanna held a press conference Wednesday with alleged Epstein accusers, who spoke in favor of the petition.

What they're saying: "The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of documents and information that could help me remember and get over all of this maybe, and help me heal," Epstein accuser Marina Lacerda said at the presser.

• "They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epstein's house."

Epstein accusers told news outlets they're compiling a list of powerful figures connected to the disgraced financier.

• "A lot of us survivors know we've been compiling lists of our own, and we have so many other survivors," Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips told NBC News. "Please come forward, and we'll compile our own list and seek justice on our own."

The subpoena for Epstein's estate

Context: House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena in late August to Epstein's estate for records, including the so-called "birthday book."

• The deadline for that subpoena is Sept. 8.

Zoom in: The "birthday book" in question was reportedly a leather-bound album constructed by Maxwell in honor of Epstein's 50th birthday.

• The Wall Street Journal reported that the book included a "bawdy" birthday letter bearing Trump's name. Trump promptly sued WSJ and owner Rupert Murdoch over the report.
• The WSJ then published a report naming other public figures it says were in the book, including Bill Clinton.
• House Democrats previously requested a copy of the so-called "birthday book."

Worthy of your time: Comer announced in August that he has subpoenaed multiple former government officials, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, and former FBI director James Comey.

The bottom line: Comer says that the documents at the Epstein estate could further the panel's investigation into Epstein.

House releases redacted Epstein files

The House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 documents related to the Epstein investigation Tuesday.

• The documents included flight logs, jail surveillance video, court filings and audio recordings.

Yes, but: Top Democrats said the documents had already been shared with the public. There was some new information related to flight logs, per Politico.

Other critics suggested that the release was aimed at draining momentum from Massie's efforts with his discharge petition.

• "It doesn't change a thing," Massie told reporters on Tuesday. "It's giving political cover for some people, but that's fleeting, because eventually people are going to pore through those documents and find out there's nothing new in there."

DOJ shares interview transcripts

The DOJ released audio recordings and transcripts of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's interview with imprisoned Epstein associate Maxwell in late August.

• In the interviews, Maxwell spoke about her relationship with Epstein and chronicled how she knew Trump.
• The documents came with redactions of accuser names and other identifying information.

Upcoming testimonies on Epstein probe

Three key witnesses are set to testify about the Epstein probe, which could ignite the MAGA base, Axios' Tal Axelrod writes.

• FBI director Kash Patel, who discussed conspiracy theories about Epstein before he worked with the government, will testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on Sept. 18.
• Former Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who approved the sweetheart plea deal with Epstein in 2008, will be interviewed by the House Oversight Committee behind closed doors on Sept. 19.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi, who ignited uproar among MAGA with a July memo stating Epstein died by suicide and did not have a "client list," will testify publicly before the Judiciary Committee on Oct. 9.

When will there be new information?

What we're watching: The discharge petition could lead to the full release of the Epstein files.

• The upcoming testimonies from Patel, Bondi and Acosta might shed new light.
• Comer's focus on Epstein's estate and the "birthday book" could also bear weight, considering the splashy headlines it made in July.

More from Axios:

6 quick questions to help you understand the Epstein probe

What are the Epstein files? All you need to know

What we know about Trump's relationship with Epstein