Overview
- Representative Jamie Raskin sent letters Tuesday to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DNI nominee Jay Clayton and Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting records about Epstein’s contacts with foreign officials and asking whether DOJ ever investigated him as a foreign agent.
- Raskin says recently released documents show substantial evidence that Epstein advanced the interests of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, advised Russian officials, consulted for a former Israeli prime minister, and used his ties to President Trump to win foreign work.
- The inquiry highlights roughly 2.5 million Justice Department files related to Epstein that remain unreleased and that Democrats say may contain more detail about his dealings with foreign governments.
- With Republicans controlling the House, Raskin’s requests are likely to go unanswered now, and Democrats present the effort as a blueprint for using subpoena power if they regain committee control.
- If investigators find Epstein acted on behalf of foreign principals without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, those findings could trigger civil or criminal exposure and deepen bipartisan criticism of how the Justice Department handled Epstein materials and victims.