House Republicans have blocked a Democratic effort to force the release of all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. The move came after Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California introduced an amendment calling for the documents to be made public.
The House Rules Committee voted late Monday to reject the amendment. The vote was 5 to 6, with only one Republican, Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, joining Democrats in support. The proposal would have required Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish the Epstein files online within thirty days.
Republicans argued that the amendment was not relevant to the legislative packages it was attached to, which included a cryptocurrency measure and a defense funding bill. They also said that the release of such files should follow standard legal procedures, not be rushed through unrelated legislation.
Democrats criticized the decision, saying the public has a right to know the full details of the Epstein case. Congressman Khanna said he plans to keep pushing for the release of the documents, arguing that transparency is necessary to restore public trust and hold powerful people accountable.
House Democratic leaders called the blocked vote part of a larger problem with government secrecy. They said they plan to reintroduce similar proposals in the future to ensure that the Epstein files are eventually made public.
The demand for the Epstein documents comes after a recent statement from the Department of Justice, which said there is no evidence of a so-called “client list” or of blackmail materials connected to Epstein’s crimes. Still, the case has fueled years of public speculation, especially regarding possible ties between Epstein and high-profile figures.
The vote reflected a clear partisan divide, with most Republicans opposing the measure and most Democrats supporting it. The debate has added to ongoing tensions between the two parties, with Democrats accusing Republicans of breaking previous promises about transparency. Republicans defended their decision, saying the amendment bypassed proper legal procedures.
A federal judge has not yet ruled on other pending motions related to the Epstein files, and the matter is expected to remain a topic of political debate.
