DOJ to begin release of Epstein files to Congress

The Department of Justice will start sharing Epstein-related files with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Friday, according to a Monday statement from Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. The DOJ has many records related to Jeffrey Epstein, so it will take time for all of them to be released, Comer added. Officials will also be making sure that the names of all victims and any child sex abuse materials are redacted, he added.

The update came nearly two weeks after the congressional committee subpoenaed a swath of public and political figures to testify on the billionaire sex offender. High-profile witnesses include former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. Former Attorneys General William Barr, Alberto Gonzales, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, and Merrick Garland were also subpoenaed, along with current Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Will the Clintons actually testify? It remains unclear how the former president and secretary of state will respond to the subpoenas. Comer cited repeated reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor to Epstein's infamous island and described him as a prime subject for deposition. Comer described the Clinton subpoenas as the most challenging legal summonses he’d ever issued, but noted he had yet to lose a subpoena battle. The difference here is that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are calling them to testify, Comer noted while speaking to Newsmax last week.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report on who else the oversight committee subpoenaed for Epstein testimony.