Driving the news: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is building on that momentum as lawmakers return, ahead of his departure from Congress in January.
- Massie said in an article published Thursday that when the House returns, efforts to force a vote on a second Epstein files transparency law would secure the necessary 218 signatures.
- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who led the bipartisan effort with Massie, announced in September that he had received enough signature pledges for the measure — but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dismissed the House early.
What’s inside: Massie and Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II in July, building on their initial legislation that Trump signed in November last year after previously working to undermine that effort.
- The bill would allow state attorneys general, local prosecutors, and victims to sue the United States Attorney General for allegations of unlawful withholding, deletions, or failure to produce records.
- It would also require the attorney general to provide certain unredacted documents to victims upon request.
Zoom out: This momentum is unlikely to slow when Democrats take control of Congress in January.
- As corruption has become a top election concern, Democrats have run offensive ads accusing the Republican Party of protecting powerful elites.
- Candidates from both parties and outside groups aired at least $70 million in television ads mentioning Epstein, pedophilia and allegations of child sexual abuse between Sept. 1 and Oct. 21, according to AdImpact data reviewed by Axios’ Alex Isenstadt.
What we’re looking at: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, who formally announced his candidacy for chairman of the House Oversight Committee, outlined four investigative priorities for the Democratic-led committee on Wednesday. The fourth will focus on Epstein.
- During his press conference, he said there was yet “real accountability for the co-conspirators and men who brutally raped, trafficked and abused young women.”
- He lamented the lack of public hearings in the House under Republican leadership, adding that he had spoken with several survivors who wanted to testify before Congress.
- The fact “that so many people are getting away with not testifying before Congress is, I think, shameful,” he said. “And so I think there are a lot of people who need to understand that … we’re going to ask them to testify.
Go further: The Democrats’ New Balance: Subpoenas and Affordability
Gn usa
