+3
By Amanda Castro, Hannah Parry, Shane Croucher, Jenni Fink, Gabe Whisnant, and Anna Commander
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files will take place next week - an earlier timeline than expected. Johnson must take the vote to the floor after Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and GOP Rep. Thomas Massie were able to get the 218th, and final signature, on their petition to force a vote on releasing the files, with the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva Wednesday. The Republican speaker does have some flexibility on when the vote takes place but he confirmed today it would happen quickly.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a tranche of emails on Wednesday, including communications between Jeffrey Epstein, Steve Bannon and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. The explosive emails raise fresh questions over what U.S. President Donald Trump knew about Epstein's sexual misconduct. The first series of emails, released earlier this morning, included communications showing Epstein calling Trump the "dog that hasn't barked" and that the president had asked Epstein to resign his membership at his Mar-a-Lago club. One email sent by Epstein says "of course" Trump "knew about the girls" because he asked Ghislaine Maxwell "to stop." The emails were sent to author Michael Wolff from 2011 to 2019. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein's sexual offending before the latter's convictions.
The emails will intensify pressure on Trump and his administration over the handling of the Epstein files. This issue had caused a significant fracture with his MAGA base, who believe the government is withholding the whole truth about the late financier and his elite network of contacts.
What To Know
- Trump has previously called the backlash over the delayed release of Epstein files a “Democrat hoax."
- Both Trump's MAGA base and Democrats have long called for the release of all Epstein files.
- Epstein and Trump were friends through the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
- Trump says he kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago over his behavior.
- Ghislaine Maxwell is in jail for her role in aiding and abetting Epstein's sex offenses against minors.
- Epstein killed himself while in a New York prison awaiting trial in 2019.
- In a post on X, the Republicans on the House Oversight Committee claimed Democrats are “trying to create a fake narrative to slander President Trump,” pointing to Giuffre’s public statements that she never witnessed wrongdoing by Trump.
- White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused the Democrats of having “selectively leaked emails” to “create a fake narrative to smear President Trump.”
Newsweek's live blog is closed.
...
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM EST
Representative Ilhan Omar congratulates Representative Grijalva
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota took to X on Wednesday to congratulate her colleague, Representative Adelita Grijalva, on her swearing in.
"Congratulations to Rep. Adelita Grijalva on her swearing in! Proud to welcome her to Congress and even prouder that her very first act is signing on as the 218th signature to the Epstein discharge petition," Omar said.
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:00 PM EST
Ex-federal prosecutor says Epstein emails ‘won’t move the needle legally’
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers, told Newsweek that while the Jeffrey Epstein emails a politically damaging for Donald Trump, they are unlikely to result in any legal action against the president.
"They don’t support the proposition that Trump participated in sex acts, at least not directly," Rahmani said. "Second, although the emails suggest that Trump knew about Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors, none of the evidence is admissible. Epstein is dead, the emails are hearsay, and even if Trump could theoretically be prosecuted after he leaves office because there is no statute of limitations for federal sex abuse and presidential immunity doesn’t apply to unofficial acts, the Confrontation Clause of the Constitution would bar the admission of the emails at any trial.
“The Epstein emails are bad for President Trump politically, but they’re not going to move the needle legally," he added.
Rahmani said that Trump could face civil litigation but that could present its own challenges.
"A civil lawsuit requires a willing and able victim," he explained. "The victim referenced in the emails appears to be the late Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide and who never accused Trump of wrongdoing.
"And the statute of limitations on a civil claim would likely have run. So unless another victim comes forward and directly accuses Trump, the Epstein emails are more political fodder for the House Oversight Committee and the court of public opinion than evidence that will see a courtroom.”
Nov 12, 2025 at 09:30 PM EST
Could House members change their mind on Epstein petition before vote?
While members of the House of Representatives could potentially change their mind on their support for the petition to force a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, it will have no impact on the vote scheduled for next week.
Now the discharge petition has the backing of 218 members, their signatures have been frozen and cannot be removed.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican, told reporters that he even if one of the signees left Congress or died, their signature would still stand.
It's an important distinction as Representative Mikie Sherrill, who won the New Jersey gubernatorial election, just submitted her resignation to the House on Wednesday.
Nov 12, 2025 at 09:00 PM EST
WATCH: Moment Rep. Grijalva signs petition to release the Epstein files
Nov 12, 2025 at 08:17 PM EST
Rep. Massie celebrates successful petition to force Epstein vote ‘in spite of a last ditch effort by the president’
Republican congressman Thomas Massie, one of the co-sponsors of the petition to force a House vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, is celebrating gaining the final signature needed, despite the efforts from his own party members.
"in spite of a last ditch effort by the President to foil the motion, and @SpeakerJohnson’s propaganda, the discharge petition I have been leading just succeeded!" he wrote on X.
"In December, the entire House of Representatives will vote on releasing the Epstein files."
Speaker Mike Johnson has since come forward and said the required vote will occur as early as next week.
Nov 12, 2025 at 07:29 PM EST
Rep. Swalwell mocks Trump, Patel over Epstein emails
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, shared a clip of his heated clash with FBI Director Kash Patel in September, on how many times President Donald Trump's name appeared in the Epstein files.
"If you don't know how many times Trump's name appears in the Epstein files, it could be at least 1,000 times," Swalwell told Patel at the time, who responded that it was not, and attacked Swalwell, saying his constituents were being underserved by the representative.
On Wednesday, after documents were released showing Trump's name appeared in the Epstein emails multiple times, Swalwell shared the clip on X, with the caption, "I guess it's safe to say he was mentioned."
Nov 12, 2025 at 07:01 PM EST
House will vote on Epstein files by next week, says Speaker Johnson
Speaker Mike Johnson said that the House of Representatives will hold its vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files as early as next week.
"We’re going to put that on the floor for a full vote when we get back next week,” Johnson said. “In the meantime I’ll remind everybody the [House] Oversight Committee has been working around the clock” on its own investigation.
Johnson has to take the vote on the floor after Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and GOP Rep. Thomas Massie were able to get the 218th, and final signature, on their petition to force a vote on releasing the files.
Nov 12, 2025 at 06:45 PM EST
Epstein’s exchanges with Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to Turkey
The newly released emails from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee show Jeffrey Epstein exchanging personal messages with billionaire Tom Barrack, a longtime friend of President Donald Trump who was nominated earlier this year to serve as U.S. ambassador to Turkey.
In one 2016 email, Epstein wrote to Barrack, “Send photos of you and child — make me smile.”
Barrack replied on the same day, March 9, "Hope ur good. Let's catch up."
In another message on the same day, Epstein referenced Trump directly, writing, “FYI I receive many calls a week about both Donald ( [REDACTED], beauty contest, Mar-a-Lago, etc.). My answers are always I have nothing to say, or I try to ignore altogether. A few times I have been ambushed on the street with questions, but I am more careful now."
Nov 12, 2025 at 06:30 PM EST
Epstein claimed he’d discussed Trump with Russian official
Jeffrey Epstein boasted, in an exchange with former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, that he had spoken with Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, about President Donald Trump.
In the 2018 communications, Epstein said that Churkin “understood trump after our conversations," adding, “It is not complex. he must be seen to get something its that simple.”
Churkin died in 2017.
Epstein added during his back and forth with Jagland, that he hoped to meet with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He urged Jagland to “suggest to putin, that lavrov, can get insight on talking to me.”
It's not clear if Epstein and Lavrov ever met but the disgraced financier commented on Trump and Putin's summit, which he thought had gone poorly for the U.S. president.
"“Im sure his view is that it went super well. he thinks he has charmed his adversary.. Admittedly he has no idea of the symbolism. He has no idea of most things," he said of Trump.
Nov 12, 2025 at 06:06 PM EST
Nancy Mace shares story of sexual abuse as she explains why she’s supporting Epstein petition
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has revealed why she is not removing her signature from the petition to force a House vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"The Epstein petition is deeply personal," she said in a statement. "When I was 14 I was molested by a friend of one of my coaches and sexually assaulted at 16. I was violently mugged months later. I dropped out of high school at 17 because I had nothing left to give. But God helped me turn things around."
She stated that she then suffered further sexual abuse and domestic violence two years ago.
"As a survivor I will defend every last attack on President Trump to the death, everywhere. Just like I did on Stephanopoulos because I believe in HIM. And all this fake news, well, it’s just noise," she continued.
"I will NEVER abandon other survivors," she added.
Nov 12, 2025 at 05:23 PM EST
Rep. Grijalva signs petition to force vote on releasing Epstein files
The newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva, has signed the petition to force the House of Representatives to vote on releasing the Department of Justice's files on Jeffrey Epstein, in one of her first actions as a congresswoman.
Her signature gives the petition its 218th, and final, name, allowing it to move forward in the House.
Nov 12, 2025 at 05:02 PM EST
WATCH: Moment Rep. Grijalva is finally sworn in, seven weeks after she was elected
Nov 12, 2025 at 04:58 PM EST
Mike Johnson reacts after new Epstein emails released
Speaker Mike Johnson echoed President Donald Trump's attacks on the Democrats, after they released new emails from Jeffrey Epstein.
“I think this is a massive distraction by the Democrats,” Johnson told CNN's Manu Raju Wednesday.
When asked why Trump did not simply release the Epstein files, an issue he made key to his 2024 campaign, Johnson replied, “He’s for everything coming out.”
Nov 12, 2025 at 04:40 PM EST
Rep. Don Bacon to support discharge petition on Epstein files
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said in an interview that he will vote in favor of the discharge petition aimed at compelling a House vote to require the Justice Department to release all remaining files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The petition needs 218 signatures to force a floor vote. Bacon’s backing signals growing pressure within Congress to make public the full scope of Epstein’s connections and activities.
Nov 12, 2025 at 04:17 PM EST
Democrats release Epstein email alleging Trump spent time with victim; White House denies wrongdoing
House Oversight Committee Democrats released a 2011 email allegedly sent by Jeffrey Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell, in which Epstein claimed that Donald Trump “spent hours” with a person the committee identifies as a victim. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking in connection with Epstein’s criminal network.
In the email, Epstein wrote, “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. [Victim] spent hours at my house with him.” The message suggests Trump’s name had not surfaced in investigations despite alleged proximity to a victim.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the email’s significance, stating, “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.” The release adds to mounting pressure for full disclosure of Epstein-related records as Congress debates further action.
Nov 12, 2025 at 04:04 PM EST
Epstein survivor calls for full disclosure as new emails surface
Danielle Bensky, who says she was 17 and training as a ballerina when Jeffrey Epstein abused her in 2004, is urging lawmakers and the public to support full transparency in the case. That same year, Donald Trump claimed he ended his friendship with Epstein.
Reacting to the release of newly surfaced emails, Bensky told NBC News the disclosures mark progress for survivors seeking accountability. “We have been banging on the transparency drum for so long,” she said. “I know that there are politics involved, but we should all be on the side of releasing all of the Epstein files once and for all.”
Her comments come amid renewed congressional efforts to compel the Justice Department to release all documents tied to Epstein’s network and alleged co-conspirators.
Nov 12, 2025 at 04:02 PM EST
New Jeffrey Epstein email undermines former Prince Andrew’s account
Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein appear to contradict former Prince Andrew's long-standing claim he had never met his accuser Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's prince title was stripped from him in October by King Charles III over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and fresh emails casting doubt on his account of ending their friendship. Now a further email from Epstein, sent in 2011, appears to undermine Andrew's denials, made during a BBC interview in 2019.
Giuffre had made public a photograph she says Epstein took of Andrew with his arm around her waist in Ghislaine Maxwell's London townhouse in 2001. That same night, Giuffre says she was first made to sleep with Andrew when she was a 17-year-old sex trafficking victim. Andrew has always denied the allegations. Giuffre sued him at New York civil court accusing him of rape and he settled out of court while denying liability in 2022.
In the newly released 2011 messages, Epstein wrote that Giuffre had “her picture taken with Andrew,” adding that several of his employees had as well.
Full Story: New Jeffrey Epstein Email Undermines Former Prince Andrew’s Account
Nov 12, 2025 at 03:51 PM EST
Recap: Epstein emails, GOP document dump, and House vote momentum
House Oversight Committee Democrats released emails from Jeffrey Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell and journalist Michael Wolff, including one in which Epstein claimed Trump asked him to resign from Mar-a-Lago and “knew about the girls.” Republicans countered with a release of 20,000 pages of documents from the Epstein estate, citing their own investigation.
The White House responded sharply, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accusing Democrats of selectively leaking material to smear President Trump and distract from efforts to reopen the government.
Meanwhile, Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva is set to be sworn in today, giving Democrats the 218th signature needed to force a House vote on compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein case files.
Nov 12, 2025 at 03:37 PM EST
Ro Khanna confident 40-50 Republicans will vote with Democrats on Epstein
Rep. Ro Khanna, who has been leading the push for the petition to force a vote on the release of the Epstein files with Rep. Thomas Massie, said that he was confident of "overwhelming" support when the House votes on the releae.
Describing the upcoming vote as "historic", Khanna said he believes the support would "push the Senate and it's going to push for a release of the files from the Justice Department."
Nov 12, 2025 at 03:28 PM EST
Rep. Pressley demands White House end ‘cover up’ and release files after ‘damning’ emails
Rep. Ayanna Pressley has branded the newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails "are "damning" as she urged the Trump administration to release all the Justice Department's documents on the sex offender.
"These emails are damning. It's clear Trump knew about Epstein's abuse," the congresswoman warned in a post on X.
"It's time to release the full Epstein files NOW, hold a hearing with survivors, and end this White House cover-up once and for all
Nov 12, 2025 at 02:55 PM EST
Trump says Democrats are using Epstein files to ‘deflect from their massive failures’
In a second Truth Social, President Donald Trump keep his words brief as he reiterated his belief that Democrats "are using the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax to try and deflect from their massive failures, in particular, their most recent one — THE SHUTDOWN!"
Nov 12, 2025 at 02:49 PM EST
Trump reacts to being named in Epstein emails released by Democrats
President Donald Trump has accused the Democrats of releasing the tranche of emails and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein to "distract" from the government shutdown.
"The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects," he wrote on Truth Social.
"Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap. The Democrats cost our Country $1.5 Trillion Dollars with their recent antics of viciously closing our Country, while at the same time putting many at risk — and they should pay a fair price."
Trump added that there should be "no deflections to Epstein" and that Republicans should "be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!"
Nov 12, 2025 at 02:18 PM EST
Moment White House responds to Trump officials meeting with Boebert
Nov 12, 2025 at 02:14 PM EST
White House claims meeting with Boebert about her support for petition shows ‘transparency’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed on why they Trump administration held a meeting with Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, about her support for the petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
Boebert was one of a handful of Republicans who signed the petition, which is now reaching its minimum signatures of 218 as Adelita Grijalva is sworn in. If Boebert was to withdraw her signature suddenly, the petition could no longer go forward.
The meeting also came after a reported early morning call directly from the president to Boebert.
Leavitt said on Wednesday that the meeting, first reported by the press via anonymous sources, showed the government was being "transparent."
"Doesn't it show transparency that members of the Trump administration are willing to brief members of Congress whenever they please? Doesn't that show our level of transparency?" she asked.
"Doesn't that show the level of transparency when we are willing to sit down with members of Congress and address their concerns that is the that's a defining factor of transparency. Having discussions, having discussions with members of Congress about various issues that I'm not going to detail," she added.
Leavitt also told reporters that "this administration has done more with respect to transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein than any administration ever."
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:55 PM EST
White House says emails prove Trump ‘did nothing wrong’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein emails, by the Democrat Oversight Committee, during her press conference Wednesday.
"These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong," she said.
When pushed on the substance of the emails, which claimed that Trump had spent time with an Epstein accuser, Leavitt responded that, "President Trump has always said is that he was from Palm Beach, and so was Jeffrey Epstein.
"Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar-A-Lago until President Trump kicked him out because Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile and he was a creep. And this email you refer to with the name of a victim that was unredacted now and has since been reported on in this room. So I will go ahead and say it. Virginia Guthrie.... Miss Guthrie maintains and God rest her soul, that she maintained that there was nothing inappropriate she ever witnessed, that President Trump was always extremely professional and friendly to her."
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:29 PM EST
Trump ramps up pressure on Boebert over support for Epstein petition: Report
President Donald Trump gave Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert an early morning wake up call over her support for the House petition to force a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein fils, the New York Times reports.
Boebert is one of the GOP lawmakers who broke with their party to demand the release of the Justice Department files on Epstein.
"Trump himself called Boebert, regarding her signing onto the Epstein petition and spoke to her yesterday, I am told," the Times' Annie Karni wrote on x.
She added that Trump had also been playing "phone tag" with Rep. Nancy Mace, another GOP lawmaker who has supported the petition.
"So far, they are not planning to remove their names from the petition," she wrote.
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:19 PM EST
Nancy Mace accuses Democrats of using Epstein case to deflect shutdown criticism
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) criticized House Democrats on Wednesday, accusing them of leveraging the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to distract from their opposition to a government funding measure.
In a post on X, Mace called it “pathetic” that Democrats were “using Epstein’s victims to bury headlines” about their vote against reopening the government.
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:16 PM EST
Senior Trump officials to meet over House effort to force release of Epstein files: Report
Trump administration officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, are meeting Wednesday to discuss the petition in the House to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, sources told CNN.
It comes as Democrat Adelita Grijalva is set to be sworn into office today, seven weeks after she was elected, which would give Democrats their 218th, and final, signature on the petition to force the vote.
The meeting will also include Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of the GOP lawmakers who has broken with their party to demand the release of the Justice Department files on Epstein.
Should Boebert, or one of the other Republicans who have called to release the files, remove their name from the petition, then the joint effort by Republican Rep Thomas Massie and Rp. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, would no longer be able to move forward.
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:06 PM EST
WATCH: New Jeffrey Epstein emails allege Trump ‘knew about the girls’
Nov 12, 2025 at 01:00 PM EST
Steve Bannon, Jeffrey Epstein discuss Trump and Prince Andrew in new emails
The newest release of emails show a series of communications between Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump's former White House's chief strategist Steve Bannon.
In the emails, an account which appears to belong to the convicted sex offender Epstein, tells Bannon, "prince andrew and trump today. tooo funny.
"Recall prince andrews accuser came out of mara lago," Epstein added.
"Can't believe nobody is making u the connective tissue," Bannon responds.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein's sexual offending before the latter's convictions.
Newsweek has reached out to Bannon for comment.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM EST
Massie, Khanna near breakthrough on Epstein file vote as Grijalva joins petition
After weeks of delay, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are poised to secure the final signature needed to force a House vote on releasing all Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who won her late father’s seat in a September special election, has pledged to be the 218th signatory once sworn in at 4 p.m. ET today.
Under House rules, reaching 218 signatures—an absolute majority—triggers mandatory floor action on the discharge petition, though a vote cannot occur until seven legislative days have passed. The bipartisan push aims to compel full transparency on Epstein’s ties to powerful figures and the federal government’s handling of the case.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:40 PM EST
Oversight Democrats demand full Epstein file release after new emails surface
House Democrats on the Oversight Committee are renewing calls for the full release of Jeffrey Epstein’s records following the arrival of newly obtained emails from Epstein’s estate. In a post on X, the committee said the documents “raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes.”
The message urged the public to review the emails and called on the Department of Justice to end what Democrats describe as a cover-up.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM EST
Democrats release new tranche of emails
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released a second tranche of emails on Wednesday, including communications between Jeffrey Epstein, Steve Bannon and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM EST
Gavin Newsom reacts to Epstein emails news
California Governor Gavin Newsom shared a post on X reacting to the news of the Epstein emails:
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM EST
Robert Garcia presses White House to release Epstein files after emails reference Trump
Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate have intensified calls from House Democrats for full transparency, as the documents include references to President Donald Trump and alleged time spent with a sex trafficking victim. One 2011 email from Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell describes Trump as “a dog that hasn’t barked,” raising questions about what he may have known.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said the committee received 23,000 documents last week and is working to redact survivor names before releasing more. Garcia accused the White House of a “massive cover-up” and challenged Trump to fulfill his campaign promise to release the Epstein files.
In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the document release as a “hoax,” stating that the referenced victim, Virginia Giuffre, had publicly said Trump was not involved in wrongdoing. She reiterated that Trump expelled Epstein from his club decades ago.
Garcia countered that if Trump has nothing to hide, he should authorize the full release. He also raised concerns about Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a minimum-security facility and reports that she may be seeking a commutation from Trump. Garcia said Maxwell should testify before Congress and condemned any special treatment she may be receiving.
With Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva set to be sworn in today, Democrats expect to reach the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. Garcia urged Republicans to prioritize justice for survivors and end what he called complicity in the cover-up.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM EST
Ro Khanna takes credit for Epstein emails release
Rep. Ro Khanna said Wednesday that there "only reason" that the series of emails from Jeffery Epstein had been released today was because he'd subpoenaed the estate.
"The ONLY reason these emails are out is [MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell] had the survivor's lawyers on who gave me the tip to subpoena the estate," he wrote on X.
"Why did Justice or the FBI not get & release these?" he continued, adding that the petition to force a vote in the House to release the Epstein files, had his support.
Nov 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM EST
House Democrats demand full Epstein file release as Grijalva set to trigger vote
House Democrats are intensifying calls for the full release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, citing newly surfaced records that they say implicate President Donald Trump. The push comes as Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva is expected to be sworn in today, providing the 218th signature needed to force a House vote on a discharge petition that would compel the Justice Department to release all remaining files.
“It’s no wonder Donald Trump is threatening Republicans who’ve backed the petition — he’s directly implicated,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, calling the situation “an egregious cover-up.”
Rep. Summer Lee, who previously led a motion to subpoena the files, said the latest tranche includes allegations that Trump had personal knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and spent time with victims. “All the more reason to swear in Rep.-elect Grijalva and release the files,” she said.
Rep. Shontel Brown added bluntly, “It’s clear Trump is hiding something.” The House vote is expected to follow within days of Grijalva’s swearing-in.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:47 AM EST
WATCH: Hakeem Jeffries accuses GOP of ‘Pedophile Protection Program’ over Epstein files release — 11/4
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM EST
What does the Epstein discharge petition do?
A bipartisan group in the U.S. House, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), has filed a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation compelling the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein, his associates, and his criminal network. The proposed “Epstein Files Transparency Act” would require the public release of these documents while allowing redactions to protect victims and exclude child sexual abuse material.
The discharge petition is a rare procedural move that lets lawmakers bypass House leadership and bring a stalled bill directly to the floor if 218 members sign it. If successful, it would mandate unprecedented transparency around the Epstein case, though the bill would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by the president. Supporters say it’s a push for accountability; critics warn it could jeopardize privacy or politicize sensitive investigations.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM EST
Epstein files petition is about to get its final signature: What happens next?
Adelita Grijalva is finally set to be sworn into office at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, giving Democrats the 218th – and final – signature needed on the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Speaker Mike Johnson delayed swearing in Arizona Democrat Grijalva for seven weeks after her election, blaming the government shutdown. However, with the shutdown deal headed to the House today for a vote, Rep. Johnson has agreed to swear her in, setting the stage for the newest fight over the files.
If 218 members of the House, a majority of all 435 districts, sign a discharge petition, they are able to force a floor vote in the chamber, even if leadership opposes it.
Even if the vote is held in the House, it would still need to pass the Republican-led Senate and be signed into law by President Donald Trump, who has opposed the effort. But it would put Republicans on record as opposing the release of the files.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM EST
GOP oversight accuses Democrats of misleading redaction in Epstein files
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are accusing Democrats of deliberately redacting the name of Virginia Giuffre in newly released Epstein documents, even though Epstein’s estate did not redact it in the original files.
In a post on X, the committee claimed Democrats are “trying to create a fake narrative to slander President Trump,” pointing to Giuffre’s public statements that she never witnessed wrongdoing by Trump.
The dispute comes amid escalating partisan tensions over the committee’s investigation into Epstein’s ties to powerful figures. Democrats have pushed for full transparency, while Republicans argue that selective disclosures are distorting the record.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM EST
Epstein documents reveal possible meetings with Bannon, Thiel during Trump era
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee have released multiple batches of documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, shedding new light on the convicted sex offender’s ties to influential political and tech figures.
Among the 8,500 documents reviewed, lawmakers highlighted roughly six pages of meeting schedules that appear to show appointments with Steve Bannon and venture capitalist Peter Thiel during Donald Trump’s first term in office. The committee previously disclosed messages suggesting that Epstein and Elon Musk may have been in contact.
The releases are part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s network and the federal government’s handling of the case. Lawmakers say the records could help clarify the extent of Epstein’s access to powerful individuals and institutions.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM EST
Rep. Garcia says more Epstein files to be released within hours
Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia said Wednesday that he and his team have been going through the 23,000 documents they received, and are planning to release additional documents "likely later today."
Garcia added that they've been going through the documents very carefully and urged people to "read them for themselves."
Files already released include an email chain between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell that claims President Donald Trump "spent hours" with one of Epstein's victims.
"We want to know why Donald Trump spent his entire campaign saying he would release the files and now he's in the White House there's a massive cover up going on," Garcia added.
Nov 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM EST
Epstein files vote nears as Grijalva set to trigger discharge petition
After weeks of delay, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are poised to secure the final signature needed to force a House vote on releasing all Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), newly elected to her late father’s seat, has pledged to be the 218th signer once she is sworn in at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Under House rules, reaching 218 signatures on a discharge petition compels the chamber to act, bypassing leadership. A seven-day legislative waiting period must pass before the measure can be brought to the floor.
The bipartisan push aims to compel transparency in the Epstein investigation, despite resistance from GOP leaders and the White House. If successful, the petition would mark a rare procedural win for rank-and-file lawmakers seeking accountability in a politically charged case.
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:54 AM EST
What has Nancy Mace said about Epstein?
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) left a closed-door House Oversight Committee meeting in September after hearing testimony from victims of Jeffrey Epstein, appearing visibly shaken as she exited. Mace, who has publicly shared her own experience as a sexual assault survivor, later said she suffered a “full blown panic attack” during the session.
“I had a very difficult time listening to their stories,” Mace wrote on social media. “Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I can’t breathe.”
The meeting was part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case. Democrats had called for direct engagement with victims, arguing their accounts may not be fully reflected in Justice Department records. The department began turning over subpoenaed documents last month.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized the importance of hearing from survivors and pledged transparency. “Justice must be brought for all those engaged in these evils,” he said.
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM EST
Trump previously said he cut ties with Epstein over staff poaching, denies birthday letter
President Donald Trump said Monday that he severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein years ago after the disgraced financier repeatedly hired staff who had worked for him. Speaking from his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said he declared Epstein “persona non grata” at his Florida club after multiple warnings.
“He stole people that worked for me,” Trump said. “I threw him out and that was it.”
The White House previously offered a different explanation, saying Trump expelled Epstein for “being a creep.” Trump did not elaborate on the roles of the employees involved, and the White House declined further comment.
Steven Cheung said previously: “The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep.”
The remarks come as scrutiny over Trump’s past association with Epstein intensifies. The Justice Department recently reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges and said it would not release additional documents. That decision has frustrated some of Trump’s allies, who had pledged full transparency.
Vice President JD Vance echoed that message during a visit to Ohio, saying Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of all credible information related to the case. One judge has denied a request to unseal grand jury transcripts; another ruling is pending.
Trump also denied contributing to a birthday tribute for Epstein that reportedly included a drawing of a woman’s body. “I don’t do drawings of women, that I can tell you,” he said.
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM EST
Epstein emails reference Trump ties ahead of 2020 election
Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate reveal that the late financier repeatedly referenced his relationship with President Donald Trump, both before Trump’s election and during his rise to national political prominence. The messages, disclosed Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee, are part of a trove of 23,000 documents obtained by lawmakers.
Among the emails are exchanges between Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. In the correspondence, Epstein discusses Trump’s visits and alludes to the president’s awareness of individuals later identified as victims.
The committee’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said the emails raise new questions about the nature of Epstein’s ties to Trump and the administration’s handling of related investigative materials. Some of the emails were shared directly with PBS News.
The release comes amid renewed calls in Congress to compel the full disclosure of Epstein-related files, a move the White House has resisted.
Read three of the emails below:
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM EST
Who is author Michael Wolff?
Michael Wolff is an American journalist, author, and media critic best known for his provocative books on politics and power. He gained national attention with his 2018 bestseller Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which offered a controversial, behind-the-scenes look at the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency. His 2025 follow-up, All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America, continued his exploration of Trump’s political influence.
Wolff began his career as a copy boy at The New York Times and later became a columnist for outlets including Vanity Fair, New York magazine, and USA Today. He has twice won the National Magazine Award for his incisive commentary.
Beyond writing, Wolff co-founded the news aggregation site Newser and served as editor of Adweek. His work often dissects the intersection of media, technology, and politics, with a focus on figures like Rupert Murdoch and Trump. His sharp, insider-driven narratives have made him a polarizing but influential voice in American journalism.
Nov 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM EST
Epstein discharge petition: Could the Epstein files be released?
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in on Wednesday is expected to trigger a long-awaited procedural effort in the House: a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Her signature would mark the 218th needed to compel floor consideration, bypassing House leadership.
Discharge petitions are rarely successful, but this one—led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have gained bipartisan traction. Once Grijalva signs, the petition must “ripen” for seven legislative days before a member can formally move to bring the bill to the floor. Speaker Mike Johnson then has two legislative days to schedule a vote.
Johnson has publicly stated he would allow a vote if the petition reaches the required threshold, though he recently called the effort “moot,” citing the Oversight Committee’s release of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents. He could still attempt to delay or redirect the bill through procedural maneuvers.
Even if the House passes the measure, it faces steep odds in the Senate. Majority Leader John Thune has expressed skepticism about the bill’s necessity, and a previous attempt by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to force a vote was blocked by Senate Republicans.
While the petition may not result in a new law, it would put lawmakers on record and reignite scrutiny of the federal government’s handling of the Epstein investigation.
Nov 12, 2025 at 09:49 AM EST
Trump mentioned in Epstein emails: What we know
House Democrats on Wednesday released a set of emails written by Jeffrey Epstein that suggest he believed President Donald Trump was aware of his abuse of underage girls. In one message, Epstein claimed Trump “spent hours at my house” with one of his victims and “knew about the girls,” according to the House Oversight Committee.
The emails, selected from thousands of documents obtained by the committee, date from after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal and include exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell and author Michael Wolff. Democrats say the messages raise new questions about the nature of Trump’s past relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019.
Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities, calling the renewed scrutiny a politically motivated “hoax.” He has acknowledged a past social relationship with Epstein but said they had a falling out years ago.
The release of the emails comes as the House prepares to vote on legislation to end the government shutdown. Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, whose swearing-in is expected on Wednesday, is poised to provide the final signature on a petition calling on the Trump administration to release all investigative materials related to Epstein. The White House has opposed the measure.
Committee staff redacted victims’ names and identifying details from the emails. The full context of the exchanges has not been made public.
Nov 12, 2025 at 09:35 AM EST
Epstein discharge petition: Could the Epstein files be released?
In defiance of party leadership, Republican Representative Thomas Massie began gathering signatures on a petition to force a vote for the full release of the Justice Department's files on the investigation into Epstein.
Since the middle of September, Massie's petition has been one name away from success.
The final signature is set to come from Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat who won a September 23 special election in Arizona to succeed her late father.
She has said she’ll sign the petition once she takes office, giving the petition the 218 signatures needed to trigger a floor vote.
But Grijalva has still not been sworn in, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would not seat her until the government shutdown ends.
That is, it appears, about to happen. Johnson has called the House back into session to vote on the shutdown-ending spending bill and plans to swear Grijalva in on Wednesday afternoon.
Read more from Newsweek's Khaleda Rahman.
Nov 12, 2025 at 09:27 AM EST
Top Oversight Dem: White House faces glaring questions over Epstein emails
U.S. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement that Trump faces "glaring questions" over the new Epstein emails.
“These latest emails and correspondence raise glaring questions about what else the White House is hiding and the nature of the relationship between Epstein and the president,” Garcia said.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines