Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) will hold a press conference on Wednesday with ten victims of Jeffrey Epstein as part of their ongoing efforts to push for the declassification of files related to Epstein’s case.
Massie, along with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), previously joined Khanna in supporting a discharge petition aimed at forcing a full House vote on releasing classified documents connected to Epstein. According to Khanna, the petition has received support from 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans.
The move comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned the House early for the month of August amid reported tensions over the petition. Johnson criticized Massie for not advancing the petition during previous years and questioned his current motivation.
In recent years, there have been repeated calls from lawmakers and supporters for the release of Epstein’s client list. However, there is uncertainty about whether such efforts would have succeeded under President Biden’s administration. The issue has also drawn attention from figures who supported former President Trump, including FBI Director Kash Patel.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel were involved in a file release event earlier this year that disappointed some supporters when it was revealed that no new information was included in materials provided to select individuals. Bondi later stated she had been misled by FBI agents and claimed thousands of pages were withheld from her office.
Patel defended official findings that Epstein died by suicide, despite irregularities such as malfunctioning security cameras and falsified records by guards on duty at the time.
A leaked Department of Justice memo in July indicated there was no incriminating client list or credible blackmail evidence found, nor grounds to investigate uncharged individuals associated with Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
Former President Trump has criticized both Democrats and Republicans seeking further disclosure regarding the case, dismissing claims of additional information as unfounded and labeling some Republican supporters as “stupid” or “foolish.”
The upcoming press conference on September 3 will feature ten victims speaking publicly for the first time. In an interview with Fox, Rep. Khanna said: “People are going to be outraged,” following the news conference.
Khanna added: “These victims haven’t spoken for decades. When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers.”
He continued: “All the victims are saying is for closure, we need the Epstein files released, that there are a lot of other rich, powerful men, politicians, business leaders, who have committed abuse and who have not been held accountable.”
Speaking about bipartisan support for their effort, Khanna told Fox: “We’ve got 212 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert. Look, this is not about Donald Trump, and it’s not partisan. This is about justice for the victims of rich and powerful men who abused underage girls. And 10 of these victims are speaking out for the first time at a press conference that Massey and I are organizing on the steps of the Capitol on September 3. In this country, people want transparency, they want accountability. I’m confident we’re going to get the 218 votes for the discharge petition.”
When asked about expectations for the news conference, Khanna responded: “Well, these victims haven’t spoken for decades. When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers. No one talked to the victims or their lawyers when Maxwell was sentenced. No one has ever heard, what do they want? And my belief is, when the American people actually hear the victims for the first time, they are going to sympathize, their hearts are going to be broken. And all the victims are saying is for closure, we need the Epstein files released, that there are a lot of other rich, powerful men, politicians, business leaders, who have committed abuse and who have not been held accountable. That’s what we’re going to hear on September 3, and people are going to be outraged. And I don’t see how after that, the house can’t vote for the release of these files.”
