‘Stay Tuned’: 4 Keys to Understanding What’s Next in Epstein Probe

Amid new information on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein coming to light this week, one thing is certain: Much more is still to come. 

The only question is, how much more?

Late Tuesday, the Justice Department, responding to pressure from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, produced its first release of 33,295 redacted pages of evidence that included images and video. 

Still, some members of Congress are demanding more. 

Epstein died in a federal prison cell by hanging, which the Justice Department concluded was a suicide.

Here’s what we know so far and what’s ahead. 

1. Releasing Information

Two House Republicans from Kentucky are taking a leading role in the Epstein drama on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Thomas Massie wants everything released and has complained about excessive redactions. The Trump administration has pushed back, saying that exposure should be measured to protect the names of innocent victims. 

Meanwhile, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer is pushing for more to come out, but is working with the Department of Justice on the gradual release of information, which the DOJ says has to be done to protect victims.

Massie filed a discharge petition in the House of Representatives that he is hoping will gather enough signatures to force a full House vote on releasing all of the Justice Department’s files on Epstein. Discharge petitions are a means to get a floor vote even when it is House leadership that usually determines which bills go before the full House for a vote.

Massie said most of the tens of thousands of pages recently released were “so redacted as to be useless.” 

“I appreciate the effort they’ve undertaken,” Massie said of the House Oversight Committee when speaking to reporters Wednesday. “But the scope of their investigation is to investigate the investigators. … They are not going in to identify who these perpetrators were, of these heinous sexual abuse crimes.” 

The committee has subpoenaed former U.S. attorneys general and FBI directors, as well as a former federal prosecutor who handled the Epstein case, to determine whether the Justice Department mishandled the prosecution. 

Massie said the White House is “calling it a hostile act” for House members to sign the discharge petition. 

Speaking before the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, Comer asked the panel to support House Resolution 668, which continues the Oversight Committee’s investigation. He explained why the Justice Department should be held accountable. 

“Their [the sexual abuse victims’] stories are heartbreaking. What they have suffered and endured should never have happened and is sickening. They were not only victims of crimes, but were betrayed by their own government,” Comer said of the Epstein survivors. “Since 1996, the FBI ignored tips. Then, U.S. attorneys gave Epstein a sweetheart deal to avoid significant jail time. The government simply disregarded the law and ignored the victims of these crimes.”

2. ‘We Know the Names’

During a Capitol Hill news conference Tuesday, Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced Epstein survivors, some of whom also met in a private session with the full House Oversight panel. 

While the Justice Department has said there is not a “list” of Epstein clients, the victims vowed to release their own lists of culprits.

“Several of us Epstein survivors have discussed creating our own list of names,” said Lisa Phillips, an alleged Epstein victim, at the news conference. “We know the names. Many of us were abused by them. Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know were regularly in the Epstein world, and it will be done by survivors and for survivors; no one else involved. Stay tuned for details on that. History is watching, and so are the women who come after us.”

3. The Missing Minute

Commentators have frequently questioned the missing minute of prison security video footage outside Epstein’s cell on the night of his death. 

The committee revealed video of the previously missing minute on the night of Epstein’s death. The missing video had sparked considerable speculation. 

However, the recovered footage of the previously missing video on the night of Epstein’s death did not show any unusual activity inside the cellblock. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi in early July told reporters at the White House, “What we learned from [the] Bureau of Prisons was, every night the video is reset, and every night should have the same minute missing.”

However, the disputed minute—from 11:58:59 on Aug. 9, 2019, to midnight—did show up in the newly disclosed information.

Fox News Digital reported it used the committee’s camera data and combined two clips to observe the previously missing minute from the night of Epstein’s death. Fox reported the video footage showed “there was indeed no lapse in footage,” as Bondi had asserted. 

4. Oversight Probing Epstein Estate, Bank Records

The Oversight Committee has also asked the Treasury Department for suspicious activity reports of Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Banks make these reports to the Treasury Department if potential criminal activity is detected.

The committee has subpoenaed Maxwell to give a deposition and has subpoenaed the Epstein estate for unredacted documents and communications in its possession, custody, or control.

Comer issued subpoenas to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to be deposed in October. Also, former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, and Merrick Garland were called to provide information to the committee. Former Attorney General William Barr already sat for a deposition from the committee.

Comer also subpoenaed Alexander Acosta, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a former secretary of labor, who was criticized for giving a light deal to Epstein when he prosecuted him for prostitution charges in 2008. Acosta will appear for a transcribed interview later this month. 

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was excused from meeting with the committee because of his health. He was scheduled to meet on Tuesday. 

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