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House Oversight Committee Subpoenas DOJ for Epstein, Maxwell Records
Washington D.C. – The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Department of Justice for all records related to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The committee is demanding documents and communications by August 19th, covering information from both court cases. This action follows a bipartisan subcommittee vote directing Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) to issue the subpoena.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Comer emphasized the importance of Congressional oversight of federal sex trafficking law enforcement, specifically regarding the handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases. The DOJ declined to comment on the subpoena.
The committee also issued subpoenas for several high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, and former Attorneys General Merrick Garland and Bill Barr. Depositions are expected to begin in mid-August and continue into the fall.
Congressional Subpoena Sets Stage for Potential Clash with White House
The subpoena for DOJ records sets the stage for a potential clash between Congress and the White House. Following a DOJ memo stating there was no evidence of an Epstein “client list,” President Trump has faced pressure to increase transparency. He has advocated for the release of grand jury testimony from both the Epstein and Maxwell cases.
Maxwell’s lawyers are resisting the release of grand jury transcripts, arguing it could jeopardize her Supreme Court appeal. They maintain that public curiosity is not a sufficient reason to compromise Maxwell’s legal and reputational interests.
Adding another layer to this complex situation, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently conducted a two-day, closed-door interview with Maxwell, a move considered unusual for a senior DOJ official. The DOJ has not disclosed the content of the interview.
Maxwell was also recently transferred from a Florida federal prison to a Texas prison camp. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed the transfer but provided no further details.
President Trump denied any knowledge of the transfer, stating it was “not a very uncommon thing.” He also defended Blanche’s interview with Maxwell, stating any questions asked would be “totally appropriate.”