House Republicans on the oversight committee issued a report on Tuesday presenting findings from their 15-month investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The report calls on the Department of Justice to interview additional key witnesses, investigate associates accused of crimes, and ensure survivors can access their records. Committee Chair James Comer stated that the federal government has not adequately served survivors and urged passage of legislation to prevent nondisclosure agreements from discouraging witnesses from coming forward.
The Justice Department responded that Comer’s recommendations have already been addressed, noting that the attorney general has stated the Epstein case remains open with no statute of limitations applicable to human trafficking charges. The department’s statement indicated ongoing commitment to the investigation.
Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia disputed the Republican report, characterizing it as misleading and based on an incomplete investigation without public hearings. Garcia alleged the Justice Department continues to withhold over 2.5 million documents and stated that Attorney General Todd Blanche has not testified before the committee. He also noted a lack of investigation regarding Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer.
The Republican report documents findings from 19 transcribed interviews and seven depositions, including details on how Epstein cultivated relationships with powerful individuals and federal investigative failures. The report specifically addresses the 2008 non-prosecution agreement and plea deal that resulted in the federal case being shelved. It also raises concerns about the Justice Department’s handling of document releases under the Epstein Files Transparency Act enacted last year, noting instances of deficient redactions that exposed survivor information.
Among other recommendations, Comer urged the Justice Department to further investigate Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff and pursue sexual assault allegations involving two men made by former assistant Sarah Kellen. With Democrats set to assume committee control in the coming weeks, Garcia indicated plans to conduct public hearings with survivors and question powerful men associated with Epstein.
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