When Silicon Valley Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and a Kentucky Republican wrangled sufficient lawmakers in July to power the discharge of presidency recordsdata on the late financier and little one intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, Home Speaker Mike Johnson halted work and despatched lawmakers residence early for the summer season recess.
With members of the U.S. Home of Representatives again in Washington, D.C., Khanna and his unlikely Republican ally are rapidly resuming their campaign for Epstein-related documentation. They’re thwarting Republican President Donald Trump, who fomented after which dismissed the renewed consideration on Epstein, and Trump ally Home Speaker Mike Johnson.
And, he stated, “not allow rich and powerful men to abuse underage girls with impunity.”
Trump is amongst many wealthy, highly effective males, together with former President Invoice Clinton and England’s Prince Andrew, who socialized with Epstein. The president has stated he had a falling out with Epstein earlier than Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida on little one prostitution expenses. In 2019, throughout Trump’s first time period in workplace, the federal authorities charged Epstein with little one intercourse trafficking, and he died in custody a month later in what was dominated a suicide by hanging.
On Tuesday, Massie filed a petition that might power Home management to permit a vote on the invoice. They’re assured they’ve the help to take action. Khanna claims that every one 212 Democrats within the Home plan to signal the petition, and 11 Republicans have co-sponsored the invoice to date — greater than sufficient help to push it throughout the end line. The invoice would compel the U.S. Division of Justice and different companies to launch inside 30 days “all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials” associated to Epstein and his shut affiliate, convicted little one intercourse trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. That would come with “individuals, including government officials,” named in reference to Epstein’s crimes or investigations.
Earlier this summer season, Johnson opposed the invoice as a result of he stated it might compromise the privateness of Epstein’s survivors. Trump administration officers have additionally stated the recordsdata comprise little one pornography. The invoice would enable authorities officers to withhold little one intercourse abuse supplies or info that would establish victims.
Democrats have gleefully fanned the flames of the rising controversy over Epstein, his many connections to the rich and influential and the federal authorities’s investigations. Khanna has labored laborious to maintain the problem high of thoughts for voters this summer season as Trump urged his supporters to as a substitute applaud his successes and pivoted to concentrate on crime in cities.
It’s a uncommon difficulty that has cut up Trump’s Make America Nice Once more base. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an avid conspiracy theorist, is slated to seem on the press convention on Wednesday, Khanna stated. She has co-sponsored the invoice with Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and different far-right lawmakers. However, so has Democratic former Home Speaker and San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
“It’s not partisanship,” Khanna stated, “it’s patriotism.”
Khanna can also be enjoying a task in one other push to launch Epstein-related recordsdata by Home lawmakers. The Home Oversight Committee, which is led by Republicans, is making an attempt to information an investigation into who amongst Epstein’s high-powered social circle could have been conscious of his sexual abuse of teenage ladies. They’re additionally analyzing how the federal authorities dealt with the instances in opposition to Epstein.
Khanna is a member of the committee and stated he helped craft a letter to Epstein’s property. Final week, the committee subpoenaed the property for paperwork together with a e book that was compiled with notes from pals for his fiftieth birthday, his final will and testomony, agreements he signed with prosecutors, his contact books, and his monetary transactions and holdings.
As strain mounted, the Trump administration launched to the committee a trove of paperwork that Democrats stated had been largely public already. The committee revealed them on Tuesday. Officers additionally requested judges to unseal transcripts of grand jury proceedings in Epstein’s prison instances, however they declined, citing longstanding secrecy guidelines. Decide Richard Berman of the Southern District of New York stated the request to launch grand jury information “appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct.”
Khanna can also be unhappy with the Trump administration’s responses.
“They’ve been stonewalling,” he stated.
The Related Press contributed to this story.
Initially Printed: September 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM PDT
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