WASHINGTON − The House is fighting over a bill to force the Justice Department to release records from its criminal investigation into sex trafficking by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
But an effort to force a vote on the measure is two votes short of a majority, and President Donald Trump and leading Republicans are trying to make sure it doesn't get there.
The legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, D-California, calls for the release of “all investigations, prosecutions or custodial matters” about Epstein and his aide, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison term.
The information could include flight logs, names associated with criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements. The targets could be companies or governmental agencies with alleged ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks.
Bradley Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein survivors, told reporters Sept. 2 that he has seen records through civil lawsuits that documented the financial support Epstein received to support his sex trafficking conspiracy. Edwards said a release of documents could also include CIA and FBI records.
