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Republican leaders hoped that a five-week congressional recess would ease growing frustration over the Trump administration’s stalled release of files tied to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, the controversy has only deepened, leaving lawmakers of both parties bracing for a September showdown when Congress returns to Washington.
Background
When Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders left Capitol Hill for their August break, they sought to avoid an intraparty clash over the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related records. Johnson argued that the House could not act while courts weighed in on whether to unseal certain grand jury materials.
But the recess has done little to shield Republicans from questions back home. The Justice Department missed multiple deadlines from both House and Senate committees to comply with bipartisan subpoenas. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who chairs the House Oversight Committee, announced Monday that the department had pledged to begin releasing Epstein-related records by Friday — though the process could stretch for weeks.
Legal and Procedural Maneuvers
While the Trump administration petitioned federal judges to unseal grand jury testimony, two courts have already rejected the requests, calling the government’s claims overstated. A third ruling is still pending. Critics argue that the testimony would reveal little new information and falls short of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier pledge of transparency.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are employing procedural tools to force the issue. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have filed a discharge petition to mandate a floor vote on releasing the files. Once the House returns, they can begin collecting signatures — and early support suggests the measure could succeed.
Government Response
Comer told reporters he was confident “we’re going to get the documents,” citing “productive” talks with the Justice Department. Still, no clear timetable has been provided, and Democrats have vowed to highlight any delays.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and seven colleagues invoked a rarely used statute requiring agencies to hand over requested information when at least five members of the Senate’s chief oversight committee demand it. So far, they have received nothing, and Schumer has warned that Democrats are prepared to go to court.
“If [Republicans] choose complicity — we’ll take them to court ourselves,” Schumer said on social media Friday.
Broader Context
Epstein, a financier with political and social ties across the spectrum, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death and the involvement of longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021, have fueled years of speculation and conspiracy theories.
The latest dispute comes as Congress faces a packed September agenda, including a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. The Epstein controversy threatens to consume valuable floor time and fracture Republican unity.
Next Steps
Several former Justice Department officials, including ex-Attorney General William Barr, are set to testify before House investigators in the coming weeks. Barr already sat for a closed-door deposition Monday. More depositions are scheduled through the fall, each likely to draw renewed attention to the case.
Meanwhile, Massie and Khanna plan to hold a news conference with Epstein victims outside the Capitol on the second day of the new session. Democrats on the House Rules Committee have also signaled they will continue procedural tactics to force debate.
With neither the courts nor the Justice Department providing swift resolution, lawmakers are preparing for Epstein’s shadow to loom large over Congress as it reconvenes next month.
