Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Multiple lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are intensifying calls for transparency from the Department of Justice regarding its handling of Jeffrey Epstein.
Some shit you should know before you read: For those unaware, last week the DOJ and FBI released a memo that served as the official conclusion of the government’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, stating definitively that he died by suicide and that no incriminating “client list” or blackmail material was found. They also released hours of footage from the jail showing that no one entered Epstein’s cell. Responding to public backlash, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he “worked closely with Kash Patel & Bongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files. All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo.” Despite this, some questions are still lingering, especially after a metadata analysis from forensic experts revealed that the “raw” surveillance footage released by the DOJ & FBI from the night of Epstein’s death was processed using professional video editing software, despite claims that the video came directly from the jail.
Getting into it: In a notable development, House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined a growing bipartisan chorus of lawmakers demanding transparency from the Department of Justice regarding its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Speaking to conservative commentator Benny Johnson, the Speaker said, “It’s a very delicate subject, but you should put everything out there, let the people decide it.” Johnson, who had previously voiced support for Attorney General Pam Bondi, has since shifted his position, calling on her to explain earlier remarks suggesting the existence of an Epstein “client list.” “I think she was talking about documents, as I understood that were on her desk,” he said, adding, “I don’t know that she was specific about a list or whatever, but she needs to come forward and explain that to everybody.”
Democratic lawmakers have been even more pointed in their criticism, alleging a deliberate effort by the Trump administration to suppress damaging information. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has called for a public hearing and possible subpoenas of DOJ and FBI leaders, stating, “The Trump DOJ and FBI’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter… have not restored anyone’s trust in the government but have rather raised profound new questions about their own conduct.”
Raskin accused Trump officials of leveraging Epstein conspiracy theories for political gain and now trying to “disavow and dispel” them, warning that the administration’s shifting narratives are fueling public paranoia.
Senate Democrats are echoing the demand for full disclosure. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said, “Either they misled the American people with this conspiracy theory for years, or they’re covering it up now.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also pushed for Congress to intervene, warning, “What, if anything, is the Trump administration and the Department of Justice hiding?”
This all comes as President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel are getting significant heat from Americans over what many see as a shady and evasive handling of the Epstein case. Bondi’s conflicting statements (initially suggesting she possessed a file that might include a “client list,” then later downplaying it as a general review file) have only added to the scrutiny.
