Republicans voted to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice and longtime partner Ghislaine Maxwell, teeing up a public spectacle on the financier’s sordid crimes in a move that could anger Donald Trump.
Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee – who has regularly bucked Trump’s agenda – pushed to have Maxwell subpoenaed after accusing the administration of hiding the full Epstein files.
He wants Maxwell to spill all on the details of Epstein’s crimes in a public setting so nothing remains shrouded in secrecy.
Trump’s closest allies and rank-and-file members – including Oversight Chairman James Comer, Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene – backed the subpoena for Maxwell.
It comes as the White House has been cagey about releasing the full Epstein files, setting up a stand-off between Republicans and Trump.
That’s in contrast to what Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday – that the Department of Justice will meet privately with Maxwell in the ‘coming days.’
Burchett’s move puts both Trump and GOP leadership in a sticky situation, powerless to control what the imprisoned Epstein accomplice will say.
Burchett’s request puts both Trump and GOP leadership in a sticky situation
Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee asked the Oversight Committee to vote on subpoenaing Ghislaine Maxwell. The panel quickly approved his request
Maxwell, shown above with sex offender and accused child trafficker Jefferey Epstein, was a longtime partner of the disgraced financier. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking
Burchett first shared he was considering how to get Maxwell’s testimony last week.
He originally asked Oversight Chairman James Comer to allow Maxwell to testify in a public, televised hearing.
The Tennessean said if Maxwell refuses, then the committee should subpoena her.
The committee approved Burchett’s motion for Maxwell’s deposition, meaning the 62-year-old who is serving a 20-year-sentence for sex trafficking may have a chance to air her story to members of Congress craving more information on the sordid saga.
‘The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible,’ an Oversight spokesperson said.
‘Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her.’
The push for the Epstein accomplice’s testimony comes amid extreme pressure on Capitol Hill to release files related to the financier’s crimes and death.
The House canceled votes on Thursday due to complications with Epstein.
The Rules Committee, which determines what bills make it to the House floor for votes, has been paralyzed since Democrats on the panel have continuously worked to force Republicans to vote against the Epstein files being released.
The political jockeying has frustrated GOP members on the panel, some of whom have sided with Democrats on rules committee votes to avoid pushing back against the release of the high-profile documents.
Already Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has introduced a bill that would force the Department of Justice to release most of its files on Epstein.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leadership have also been supportive of additional Epstein files being published.
This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and financier Jeffrey Epstein
Johnson and his team are virtually powerless in stopping Massie’s measure, too, as it will eventually reach the floor after gaining 218 co-signers – and almost all Democrats and some Republicans have already said they’d vote for it.
Massie’s bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), has bipartisan support and is expected to be voted on once the House returns from August recess in September.
The only material in the files that would be withheld are portions relating to abuse or death, personal identifiable information of victims and content that would jeopardize active federal investigations or compromise national security.
If the bill secures passage, the DOJ would have 30 days to post the documents online for Americans to see.