Overview
- Oversight Chair James Comer is finalizing a committee report and plans to forward criminal referrals to the Justice Department to prompt fresh action against people in Jeffrey Epstein’s network.
- The Justice Department has released about 3.5 million pages of Epstein-related records while withholding more than 2 million pages for victim privacy and privilege, and many released files were heavily redacted.
- Investigators have completed closed-door interviews with roughly 19 high-profile witnesses and have subpoenaed Leon Black for a deposition and for nondisclosure agreements, with Black set to return to testify on Sept. 3.
- House Democrats say Republicans’ methods undercut the probe because most witnesses were not sworn and most interview recordings were not released, and they say the investigation will continue if they regain committee control.
- Victims pressed the committee for accountability and public hearings, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has told senators DOJ investigations are not closed if new, actionable evidence appears, meaning referrals could trigger renewed federal inquiries.