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DevelopingReopened Day 98

Congress’s Epstein case inquiry and DOJ referral

  1. Update 3 of 3LatestDay 9897 days later

    218 signatures put Epstein records enforcement bill on a path to House vote

    A House majority has opened a route around Republican leaders. The proposed law would let survivors and investigators sue over blocked Epstein records—but signatures are not enactment.

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    Earliest sourceX (formerly Twitter)

    What changed

    • 218 signatures—a House majority—have opened a route around Republican leaders for legislation that would let Epstein survivors, state prosecutors and lawmakers take the U.S. attorney general to court over blocked records. That is a consequential shift in control of the House agenda. It is not yet a victory for access to the files.

  2. Update 2 of 3Day 13 hours later

    A Year Into Epstein Files Fight, Cooperation Is the Contested Question

    A year after Congress promised full Epstein disclosure, frustration and DOJ noncompliance claims frame an unverified charge about White House cooperation.

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    What changed

    • Congressional Epstein probe launched last summer promised full release; a year later frustrations are mounting.
    • DOJ was reported to have withheld portions of files containing allegations involving Trump.
    • Republican Massie joined Democrat Khanna on a stronger transparency bill.
    • New Mexico sued DOJ and Blanche on Aug. 8, saying they blocked its probe.

    Still open then

    • No independent source in file verifies Krishnamoorthi C-SPAN quotes or White House cooperation level.
    • No separate confirmation Republicans echoed his specific White House criticism.

    We said we'd watch for

    • Whether the court orders release or accepts redactions after the Aug. 13 hearing.
    • Whether Comer closes the House probe with criminal referrals.
    • Whether the transparency act advances and if Trump would sign it.

  3. Update 1 of 3Day 1

    Eight Months After Congress Ordered Epstein Files Out, Justice Still Holds Them

    Nearly eight months after Congress ordered the Epstein files released, lawmakers say DOJ is defying the law, states are suing, and a second bill tries to force compliance.

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    What we knew first

    • Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, law for nearly eight months by late July 2026.
    • Lawmakers say DOJ is skirting the law Congress passed to force release.
    • New Mexico sued Acting AG Todd Blanche and DOJ on Aug. 5, 2026 for unredacted files.
    • H.R. 9694 was introduced July 15, 2026 to let states, victims and members sue over withheld records.

    Still open then

    • No verified speaker, transcript, or committee record for the Sessions-specific claims about redaction and testimony.
    • No public accounting yet of what DOJ is still withholding and why.

    We said we'd watch for

    • Whether the Justice Department answers the New Mexico suit with release or resistance.
    • Whether Transparency Act II advances or stalls on presidential support.
    • Whether House Republicans close the probe with referrals before the midterms.

Who reported

Who reported

42 outlets · 82 sources · 2 videos

14 of 42 had reported by this moment

Who's involved

Who's involved

People

  • Donald TrumpPresident of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
  • James ComerAmerican politician in Kentucky (born 1972)
  • Jeffrey EpsteinAmerican sex offender and financier (1953–2019)
  • Raúl TorrezAmerican politician
  • Thomas MassieAmerican politician
  • Todd BlancheAmerican attorney (born 1974)
  • John GaramendiU.S. Representative from California
  • Madeleine DeanAmerican politician (born 1959)

Organizations

  • Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. federal law enforcement agency
  • United States Department of JusticeUnited States federal executive department
  • United States House of Representativeslower house of the United States Congress

Places

  • New Mexico
  • Washington
  • Bell Ranch
  • United States Capitol
218 signatures put Epstein records enforcement bill on a path to House vote