Diyar Guldogan
12 December 2025•Update: 12 December 2025
WASHINGTON
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday criticized what he described as a lack of transparency from the Justice Department, saying Democrats will continue pressing for the release of long-sought records related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein case.
"The so called Department of Justice under the Trump administration needs to comply with the law, and we, as Democrats, led by Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, are going to continue to make sure that we're holding this administration accountable," Jeffries said at a news conference at Capitol Hill.
His remarks came after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Friday released an additional 20,000 pages of documents received from Epstein. This latest production contains over 95,000 photos, including images of President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson.
Jeffries argued that Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other Trump-aligned officials had previously expressed support for releasing Epstein-related documents, but he accused them of reversing course once in office.
“Didn't they come into office and do the exact opposite—obstruct and obfuscate, hide stuff from the American people?” he said.
Jeffries framed the push for disclosure as a matter of both public interest and justice for those who survived Epstein’s abuse.
"All we want is full transparency, so that the American people can get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That's what the Epstein survivors deserve and have demanded, and we're going to make sure that the Department of Justice complies," he added.
- 'These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein'
Separately, Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the oversight committee, on Friday escalated his party’s calls for the release of all federal records tied to Epstein, saying new images circulating publicly underscore the urgency of full transparency.
“It is time to end this White House cover-up and bring justice to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends,” Garcia said in a statement.
“These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. We will not rest until the American people get the truth. The Department of Justice must release all the files, NOW," he added.
Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He pleaded guilty in Florida federal court and was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008.
His victims have alleged he operated a sprawling sex trafficking network that was utilized by members of the wealthy and political elite.
Epstein’s case has remained a politically charged issue in the US, with lawmakers and victims’ advocates from across the spectrum demanding greater transparency about his network of associates and any individuals who may have facilitated his crimes.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Their past social and business ties, as well as Epstein’s extensive links to political, business, and academic figures in the US and abroad, have fueled calls for the broad release of official records.
