Topline
House Republicans subpoenaed the Justice Department on Tuesday for the Jeffrey Epstein files, breaking with President Donald Trump, who has called for Republicans to end their push for more information on the federal government’s Epstein probe.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) speaks to the media on his Committee’s investigation into former President Joe Biden’s cognitive state, in the Rayburn House Office Building on July 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The House Oversight Committee also issued subpoenas to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and eight other former high-ranking federal law enforcement officials they want to depose, including former Attorneys General Merrick Garland and Eric Holder and former FBI Director James Comey.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., was forced to issue the subpoenas after an Oversight Committee subpanel voted 8-2 to issue the subpoenas, with three Republicans joining five Democrats to approve the measure.
The subpoenas come after repeated bipartisan attempts to subpoena the Justice Department before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent members home for summer recess early to prevent Democrats from forcing a vote on releasing the files.
The subpoena issued Tuesday directs the Justice Department to turn over the “full, complete, unredacted Epstein Files” on or before Aug. 19, Comer wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The committee asked Hillary Clinton to appear Oct. 9 and Bill Clinton on Oct. 14
What To Watch For
The Oversight Committee also voted to depose Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme. Comer agreed to delay Maxwell’s subpoena until after the Supreme Court hears a petition she filed to overturn her conviction.
Crucial Quote
“While the Department undertakes efforts to uncover and publicly disclose additional information related to Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell’s cases, it is imperative that Congress conduct oversight of the federal government’s enforcement of sex trafficking laws,” Comer wrote to Bondi.
Key Background
Trump has faced weeks of unrelenting backlash from his base over the Justice Department’s decision not to release any additional information regarding its investigation into Epstein, despite Bondi and other high-ranking law enforcement officials suggesting additional information existed. Meanwhile, Trump’s own ties to Epstein—who he had known socially since the 1980s—have come under heightened scrutiny amid the fallout with some of Trump’s supporters over his handling of the controversy.
Further Reading
Here’s Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: ‘Jeff — You Are The Greatest!’ Trump Reportedly Signed Book (Forbes)
Trump Gives New Reason He Cut Epstein Ties: Claims Epstein ‘Stole’ His Workers (Forbes)
Trump Says Epstein ‘Stole’ Virginia Giuffre From His Employment (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/08/05/house-gop-subpoenas-epstein-files/