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In a significant bipartisan move, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement voted Wednesday to subpoena the Department of Justice for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender whose network of political and celebrity ties continues to fuel public interest.
The motion, introduced by Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), passed on an 8-2 vote—with three Republicans joining Democrats to approve the subpoena as one of Congress’s final acts before its August recess. Those crossing party lines included Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), and Brian Jack (R-Ga.). Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Clay Higgins (R-La.) voted against the measure.
“Numerous members of this committee and this subcommittee have called for answers and transparency,” said Lee, the panel’s ranking Democrat. “So let’s do something about it.”
Surprise Vote Shakes House GOP
The vote came unexpectedly during a hearing on unaccompanied undocumented children at the southern border. Lee proposed the measure early in the hearing, and Subcommittee Chair Clay Higgins postponed the vote until the session’s end—surprising many Republican members who were not prepared for a recorded vote on the controversial Epstein matter.
The move occurred just as the House was wrapping its final floor business of the month. The GOP-led House leadership had moved up the August recess, reportedly due to internal dysfunction aggravated by the political fallout from the Epstein controversy.
A spokesperson for Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) confirmed that chamber rules now require the subpoena to be issued. Comer had previously signaled willingness to pursue transparency around Epstein, particularly following a successful GOP-led vote Tuesday to compel the committee to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is serving a federal prison sentence.
“The public deserves to know who was complicit in Epstein’s heinous crimes, including people with immense power in our government,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), recently elected the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee.
Republicans Expand Subpoena Targets
Republicans used the moment to broaden the scope of the inquiry. The subcommittee approved an amendment by Rep. Scott Perry to subpoena a list of former officials, including:
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President Bill Clinton
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
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Former Attorneys General Eric Holder and Merrick Garland
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Former DOJ special counsel Robert Mueller
GOP members also added a provision to Lee’s original motion requiring disclosure of communications between President Joe Biden and administration officials related to Epstein.
The rare instance of bipartisan cooperation in the often divided House signals growing momentum for transparency around the Epstein investigation, which has long been shrouded in secrecy.
What Happens Next?
It remains unclear how quickly the DOJ will comply with the subpoena or whether it will resist on the basis of ongoing legal restrictions, such as grand jury secrecy rules. A federal judge in Florida this week denied the DOJ’s request to unseal certain grand jury records from earlier Epstein investigations, citing binding precedent.
Still, congressional investigators appear determined to push forward.
“Today’s vote was just the first step toward accountability,” Garcia added. “We will continue pushing for the truth.”
