House Republicans on Tuesday narrowly defeated a Democratic procedural motion to force the Department of Justice to publish files related to Jeffrey Epstein, rejecting Rep. Ro Khanna's measure 211-210 as tensions over the late financier's case continue to roil Capitol Hill and spark internal fractures within the GOP.
The measure, which would have compelled Attorney General Pam Bondi to make Epstein's files public within 30 days, was defeated along party lines, with all Democrats in attendance voting in favor and all Republicans opposed. It marked the second time this week that Democrats tried to bring the matter to the floor, citing public outrage and pressure from conservative influencers demanding transparency.
"That was probably not the last time that you're going to see us deal with this issue," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D., Mass.), the ranking member of the House Rules Committee. McGovern accused Republicans of "providing [Trump] a circle of protection," adding, "They riled up a base that is demanding more information, and because they're more afraid of Trump than they are their own constituents, they're stuck."
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) broke from President Trump's public stance in an interview Tuesday, stating that Bondi should publicly clarify her handling of the case. "She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody," Johnson told Benny Johnson, a conservative commentator. "I like Pam. I mean, think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ focusing on the major priorities."
Bondi previously said on Fox News that a supposed Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk right now for review," a claim she later clarified as referring to the full case files. The DOJ, in a memo last week, concluded that Epstein died by suicide and insisted there is no "client list," stating that sealed material "served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing."
That conclusion has not quelled anger among parts of the Republican base, prompting further scrutiny of Trump's DOJ and FBI. "What Epstein was involved in was an unspeakable evil," Speaker Johnson said. "We need to stand against it not just in word, but in deed."
While Johnson reaffirmed his trust in the president, he acknowledged the political toll of the controversy. "I'm anxious to get this behind us," he said, calling the situation "a distraction" from Trump's legislative agenda. "Let's get it resolved."
Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee escalated their demands Thursday, sending a letter to Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) requesting subpoenas for Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and their deputies Todd Blanche and Dan Bongino. The letter, signed by all 19 Democratic members, argued that only a public hearing could restore trust. "The Trump DOJ and FBI's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter... have rather raised profound new questions about their own conduct while increasing public paranoia related to the investigation," the lawmakers wrote.
They accused Trump of shifting his narrative for political convenience, saying the GOP had long "magnified and disseminated groundless Epstein conspiracy theories for purposes of political gain" and was now trying to "disavow and dispel" them ahead of the 2024 election.
The renewed furor has reportedly caused friction within the administration. Axios reported that Bongino, a former right-wing commentator and now an FBI deputy, clashed with Bondi over her handling of the files and is considering resigning.
While Trump defended Bondi on Truth Social over the weekend, he dismissed the controversy, writing, "Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about."
Despite the party-line vote, some Republicans expressed discomfort. Rep. Ralph Norman (R., S.C.), who supported the Khanna measure in the Rules Committee, said, "I believe in transparency, I believe in putting things on the table."
Rep. Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.) was more blunt: "It's just politics, it's not about protecting little children. And that ticks me off."
