House panel releases first batch of Epstein files
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has released the first set of documents from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein , the convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019. According to Politico the tranche, totaling about 33,000 files, was subpoenaed from the Justice Department. Most of the material consists of records already available to the public. Democrats on the committee said only about three percent of the files contain new details.
Democrats question value of new disclosures
The release includes court filings, such as motions from Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, and some video clips with blurred testimony from an alleged victim. Republicans said they coordinated with the Justice Department to remove sensitive information. Democrats pointed to flight logs from Customs and Border Protection as the only significant addition, documenting Epstein’s trips to Paris, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rep. Robert Garcia, the panel’s top Democrat, accused Republicans of “making a spectacle” with already-public records, according to Politico.
The release follows a Justice Department memo in July that said there was no evidence Epstein kept a “client list” or that he was murdered in jail. The memo drew criticism from both parties over a lack of transparency. Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has also subpoenaed Epstein’s estate and requested Treasury Department records. Former U.S. attorney Alex Acosta, who approved Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, is scheduled to testify before lawmakers on Sept. 19.