Democrat blasts GOP’s Jeffrey Epstein disclosures, saying 97 percent already public
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, on Tuesday slammed Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) for releasing previously public files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to ‘release’ were already mostly public information. To the American people – don’t let this fool you,” Garcia said in a Tuesday statement.
“After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97 percent of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims,” he added.
Garcia accused GOP lawmakers of making a “spectacle” out of the continued saga driven by public interest and said Comer was attempting to “cover” President Trump’s ties to the late financier.
“Donald Trump has the power right now to release all of the obscene files and documents right now. The DOJ is refusing to release the documents that have been subpoenaed,” Garcia said.
“So there is a White House cover-up at the very highest level in getting the American public the information to bring justice to these victims, and I think it’s very important for everyone to understand that.”
Garcia isn’t the only lawmaker arguing for more disclosures.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has introduced a discharge petition to try to force a vote on disclosures, said late Tuesday President Trump “may be covering for some rich and powerful people.” GOP Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) abruptly left the Tuesday closed door Oversight meeting visibly upset and raised concerns about justice for Epstein’s victims.
“I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS,” she wrote in a post online.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been summoned to testify before the committee to unveil additional details about their relationship with Epstein while victims of the underground sex trafficking ring led by the wealthy businessman are set to appear before members of Congress on Wednesday.
“It is very important that we believe these women, that we believe these survivors. We honor that and we work to bring them justice,” Garcia said.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters she had Epstein’s full client list sitting on her desk but she later walked back the statement and alleged she was referring to a stack of files that documented his criminal behavior.
In July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo confirming there was no “client list” after a lengthy investigation.
House Republicans have pledged to take a deeper dive into the dealings of Epstein while DOJ officials have spoken frequently with Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier’s longtime partner.
”I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in anyway. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects,” Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in late July.
After two days of consecutive interviews, Maxwell was transferred to a lower security prison in Texas. She’s currently serving a 20 year prison sentence, which she is appealing.