Committee issues subpoenas for Epstein documents to House Oversight
The House Oversight Committee, under the leadership of Chairman James Comer, has issued subpoenas for Justice Department files and depositions related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The subpoenas were sent to individuals who served under Democratic and Republican presidents, including former attorneys general Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Alberto Gonzales, as well as former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Robert Mueller, James Comey, and several others [1].
Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and other crimes, was subpoenaed to appear for a deposition at the Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee on August 11, 2025, with the Department of Justice cooperating to facilitate this deposition [2]. Former Attorney General Merrick Garland was subpoenaed to appear at a deposition on October 2, 2025, regarding DOJ actions during his tenure related to Epstein and Maxwell cases [3].
The subpoenas were issued after Democrats forced a vote on the matter in a House subcommittee last month. Reps. Robert Garcia of California and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania led the push for the subpoena on the Epstein files [4]. The Republican-run committee has sent subpoenas to 10 former Democratic and Republican government officials [5].
The Trump administration's response to these subpoenas has been somewhat mixed. President Donald Trump announced on July 17, 2025, that he had directed then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony related to the Epstein case. Following this, AG Bondi filed a motion and stated that the DOJ would seek to speak with Maxwell about the crimes involved [1]. This indicates some level of cooperation and willingness to facilitate access to related documents and testimony under the Trump administration.
However, the DOJ's response to the subpoenas has been less forthcoming. A spokesperson for the Justice Department has received the subpoena but declined to comment further [6]. Failure of the Justice Department to meet the Aug. 19 deadline could lead to a high-profile clash between the Trump administration and Congress.
This ongoing investigation reflects a continued interest in the Epstein case by Congress, with some degree of DOJ compliance post-Trump authorization. The subpoenas were issued to individuals who were overseeing the Justice Department when it was grappling with legal matters related to Epstein, including former attorneys general who have frequently been targets of the president's broadsides [7].
Three Republicans broke from Trump to back the subpoena for the Epstein files, signalling a growing bipartisan concern over the handling of the Epstein investigation [8]. The battle over the Epstein investigation continues to loom over the House, with Democrats seizing on the disagreement over the Epstein files as a way to criticise the Trump administration's handling of the case [9].
References:
- The Hill: House Oversight Committee subpoenas Mueller, Comey, and 9 others in probe of Epstein investigation
- CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell to be deposed in Jeffrey Epstein case
- NBC News: Merrick Garland subpoenaed in House probe into Jeffrey Epstein case
- Politico: House Oversight Committee subpoenas Maxwell, Mueller, and Comey
- The Washington Post: House Oversight Committee subpoenas 10 former officials in probe of Epstein investigation
- ABC News: Justice Department declines to comment on House Oversight Committee subpoena
- The Guardian: House Oversight Committee subpoenas former attorneys general in Epstein investigation
- CBS News: Three Republicans break from Trump to back subpoena for Epstein files
- The New York Times: Democrats seize on disagreement over Epstein files
- The ongoing politics involving the Jeffrey Epstein investigation has led to subpoenas being issued for a variety of individuals, including former attorneys general, in the realm of policy-and-legislation.
- Among the crimes that are under investigation is the sex trafficking case for which Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a prison sentence, was issued a subpoena for a deposition.
- Despite the mixed response from the Trump administration, there has been some cooperation in providing related documents and testimony regarding the Epstein case, demonstrating an interest in the general-news and crime-and-justice aspects.
- The battle over the Epstein investigation has become a point of contention between the House and the Trump administration, with Democrats using this disagreement to criticize the administration's handling of the case in war-and-conflicts and politics.
