Massive Release of Epstein Files by US House Committee Draws Mixed Reactions

Wed Oct 22 2025 07:02:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The US House Oversight Committee has published 33,295 pages of documents related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, prompting calls for clarity and transparency about the findings.

In a recent move, the US House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 pages of documents concerning the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. However, both Republicans and Democrats have expressed that the files offer little new information regarding the case. The documents include flight logs, video footage from Epstein's jail cell, court documents, and interviews with alleged victims, but critics note that most were already public. The debate on further transparency continues as public pressure mounts for accountability and full disclosure of the investigation.

A US congressional panel has released a trove of documents related to the federal investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The House of Representatives Oversight Committee published 33,295 pages, including flight logs, jail surveillance video, court filings, audio recordings and emails.

However, both Republicans and Democrats have stated that the files contain little new information, raising questions about whether the justice department is withholding additional Epstein records.

Pressure has been mounting from supporters of former President Donald Trump for increased transparency regarding the probe, particularly after the justice department indicated in July that there was no incriminating client list linked to Epstein.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, ordered the documents to be published online on Tuesday following a legal summons to the Department of Justice last month. Despite this effort, Comer acknowledged a lack of new insights: As far as I can see, there's nothing new in the documents, he told NBC News.

The newly released videos include footage from Epstein's New York jail cell on the night of his death, offering over 13 hours of surveillance from the facility during that period. Notably, it still does not contain the widely discussed missing minute—a jump in the timecode between 23:00 and 00:00 from the night Epstein died.

The documents also feature several years' worth of interviews from alleged victims who shared their experiences of abuse at the hands of Epstein, alongside police bodycam footage from searches conducted at his properties.

Critics, including Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, argue that 97% of the released documents had already been published previously, leaving the public wanting more depth and clarity regarding any potential client list or justice for victims.

Democratic congresswoman Summer Lee pointed out that the only significant new information came in the form of flight logs from the US Customs and Border Protection, regarding Epstein's travel to his island in the US Virgin Islands.

This release coincides with a bipartisan initiative led by Congressman Thomas Massie, pushing for the justice department to disclose all Epstein files within 30 days. Massie emphasized the necessity of transparency to address corruption in government dealings.

The day of the document release saw House Speaker Mike Johnson and oversight committee members meet privately with six Epstein victims, leading to emotional reactions among lawmakers, as they heard firsthand accounts. Johnson remarked on the emotional weight of the meeting, and plans for a news conference involving lawmakers and victims have been announced for later this week.