The Epstein scandal is haunting Trump: what next?
HR 581 seeks to force the Department of Justice to make transparent the files of the Jeffrey Epstein case and its actions of sexual trafficking of minors
HR 581 of Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (Calif.) (D-Calif.) over the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has even drawn some displeasure from House Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana), who called the plan “reckless.” “House Republicans are insisting on the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein,” Johnson told NBC News on Sunday. “But we also insist on the protection of innocent victims. And we are concerned that Massie and Khanna’s request is reckless in its wording and presentation because it does not adequately include those protections.”
The bill already has 34 cosponsors registered in the House system, although there could be more with names not yet included.
It is unusual to see the names of Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) and Lauren Boebert (Colorado) alongside Democrats Rashida Tlaib (Washington) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York) on the same plan.
The most recent to join the initiative, referred to the Rules Committee, was from Democrat Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (Illinois).
HR 581 would require the Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, to make available to the public 30 days after the date of enactment of the resolution “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case.
That would include all investigations, prosecutions, or custody matters involving Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
“[Must include] flight or travel logs, including, but not limited to, manifests, itineraries, pilot logs and customs or immigration documentation, of any aircraft, vessel or vehicle owned, operated or used by Jeffrey Epstein or any related entity,” it states.
It also requests to include the names of “individuals, including government officials, named or mentioned in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil agreements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigative proceedings.”
The request expands to require transparency regarding companies and civil, academic and government organizations with known or alleged ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks.
“[Also] any immunity agreements, non-prosecution agreements, plea or sealed agreement involving Epstein or his associates,” it states. “And internal Department of Justice communications, including emails, memos, and meeting minutes, relating to decisions to charge, not to charge, investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates.”
Massie and Khanna’s bill also calls for the Justice Department to disclose information about the death of Epstein, who was found dead in his New York prison in August 2019.
And what about Trump?
Prominent members of the MAGA movement have pressured the Trump administration to be transparent about the Epstein case, following a promise made in January by Attorney General Bondi.
A two-page FBI document was all what the Trump Administration released, without the famous "client list" that was so talked about to the public, unleashing theories that the president's name appears in the files of the billionaire Epstein case.
Trump declared this Monday that he expelled his old friend Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club and cut ties with him years ago because he had allegedly "stolen" people who worked for him.
The president said this from Scotland, where he attended the opening of a golf club, but did not provide further details about the dispute with Epstein.
"That is a very old story, very easy to explain, but not "I don't want to waste your time explaining it," Trump said. "But for years, I didn't speak to Jeffrey Epstein. I didn't speak because he did something inappropriate." The Trump administration has failed to ease pressure on the case, and even Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, met with Epstein's ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. On Monday, Maxwell made new arguments for the Supreme Court to overturn her 20-year sentence. claiming that Epstein protected her through a deal he made with federal prosecutors. The Supreme Court is expected to decide soon whether to take the case.

