The House of Representatives could vote on forcing the Trump administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files later this week.
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna is leading an effort in the House to require the Department of Justice to release all records related to Epstein. President Donald Trump’s base is demanding the release of additional documents regarding the government’s investigation to and incarceration of the convicted sex criminal, but administration officials have said they have no further information to release to the public about Epstein or his death.
Axios was first to report the text of Khanna’s amendment. The measure would force Attorney General Pam Bondi “to publish any records or evidence related to any investigation, prosecution or incarceration” of Epstein within 30 days of the amendment’s enactment.
The California Democrat plans to file the Epstein files measure Tuesday as an amendment to cryptocurrency legislation that is expected to be voted on in the House later this week. The Senate-passed crypto bill is expected to clear the lower chamber in a bipartisan manner, but it is unclear whether Khanna’s amendment would have the votes to pass.
The House Rules Committee will scrutinize the crypto legislation and potential amendments during a markup hearing Tuesday. The influential panel has a 9 to 4 Republican majority and frequently votes in accordance with House GOP leadership’s recommendation.
Khanna’s amendment has faced skepticism from some on the right who fear his motives have more to do with political opportunism than uncovering the truth about Epstein. The California Democrat did not file a similar amendment during former President Joe Biden’s term.
“The criticism I am receiving is Biden should have done this,” Khanna wrote Saturday on the social media platform X. “Fine. But what is good now for the public?”
“When we have a future Dem President, if Rs say let’s support Medicare for All or tax the wealthy, I wouldn’t call them out about the past,” Khanna continued. “I’d say great. Let’s get it done!”
Bondi previously said that she was reviewing a so-called client list, but the administration released an unsigned memo on July 6 stating that Epstein did not maintain a client list nor was murdered in a New York City jail in 2019.
Bondi has argued that her remarks were referring to the overall Epstein case file and not a specific client list. The attorney general has also suggested that she cannot release additional videos related to Epstein that are in the government’s possession because they depict Epstein with children or contain child pornography.
“Child porn is what they were,” Bondi said when speaking to reporters on Tuesday. “Never going to be released, never going to see the light of day.”
Trump has voiced displeasure at some of his most enthusiastic supporters for demanding the federal government release additional information about its prosecution and incarceration of Epstein.
“What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?,’” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social Saturday evening. “They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening.”
“One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it’s the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World,” Trump continued. “Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”
The president also vigorously defended the attorney general, pleading with his supporters to “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB.”
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