Victims of Jeffrey Epstein are stepping into the spotlight to demand the release of long-sealed federal investigation files. On Wednesday, they’ll join forces with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in a bold push for truth. The move signals a growing frustration with Washington’s opaque handling of a case that’s haunted the nation for years.
Fox News reported that survivors of the late sex offender’s crimes will stand alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, at a news conference.
Their goal is to pressure the Justice Department into releasing documents tied to Epstein’s federal investigation. This bipartisan effort comes as Congress returns to Washington, reigniting a firestorm over the financier’s shadowy network.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges, left behind a trail of unanswered questions.
His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of sex trafficking and is serving a 20-year sentence. The case, steeped in allegations of abuse involving powerful figures, continues to fuel public outrage and speculation.
Khanna and Massie are spearheading a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing the Epstein files. “People are going to be outraged,” Khanna predicted, suggesting the victims’ stories will shake the public’s conscience.
His passion for transparency is refreshing, but one wonders if Congress will match his urgency or hide behind procedural games. The duo’s effort faces resistance from House leadership, who seem keen on controlling the narrative.
A surprise release of nearly 34,000 pages of documents by the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday night raised eyebrows. Critics, including Massie, dismissed the dump as a rehash of mostly public information, calling it a hollow gesture to derail their petition.
“There’s nothing new here,” Massie declared, frustrated by the committee’s move. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, claimed 97% of the documents were already public. If true, this smells like a calculated dodge to keep the real secrets buried.
The document release included an interview with Maxwell and videos of Epstein’s Palm Beach home, but it’s unclear if they reveal anything substantial. Massie accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of blocking a vote on their legislation, urging him to “listen to the pleas of these victims.”
Johnson’s dismissive retort—“I would not put much stock into what Thomas Massie says”—suggests a leadership more interested in control than justice.
Khanna, undeterred, expressed confidence in securing the 218 votes needed for the discharge petition. “We’ve got 212 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert,” he said, framing the effort as nonpartisan. His point is sharp: this isn’t about politics; it’s about accountability for victims of powerful predators.
The Oversight Committee’s chair, Rep. James Comer, called Khanna and Massie’s push a “political stunt.” Yet Comer’s own claim—“This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date”—rings hollow when victims are still begging for answers. His committee’s last-minute document drop feels like a smokescreen, not a solution.
Khanna emphasized the victims’ long silence, noting, “When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers.”
Their decision to speak publicly now could shift the narrative, forcing Congress to act. The progressive agenda often cloaks itself in compassion, but Khanna’s focus on victims over politics is a rare break from the noise.
“My belief is, when the American people hear the victims for the first time, their hearts are going to be broken,” Khanna said. He’s betting their stories will galvanize public support for transparency. If the woke crowd truly cared about justice, they’d amplify these voices instead of chasing headlines.
The White House hasn’t escaped scrutiny either. Earlier this summer, the Justice Department and FBI claimed they found no evidence of an Epstein client list, prompting outrage from Trump supporters. The decision to close the investigation felt like a betrayal to those demanding accountability, not just from Epstein but from his powerful associates.
President Trump stirred controversy by calling the Epstein case a Democratic “hoax” and dismissing supporters who believed in it as buying into “bullsh—.”
His comments alienated some MAGA allies, who see the case as emblematic of elite corruption. While Trump’s frustration with conspiracy theories is understandable, his dismissal risks sidelining victims’ legitimate grievances.
A handful of Epstein and Maxwell accusers met privately with Johnson and Comer on Tuesday, signaling their determination to be heard. Meanwhile, the GOP leadership’s separate resolution to continue the Oversight Committee’s investigation seems designed to blunt Khanna and Massie’s momentum. It’s a classic Washington move: promise transparency while keeping the truth at arm’s length.
