Thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released in surprise House document dump

The House Oversight Committee made a surprising move by releasing a trove of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case on Tuesday night. This unexpected file dump came just before a House-wide vote to formalize the committee’s inquiry into Epstein on Wednesday afternoon. While the vote is largely symbolic, it would also direct the committee to release the Epstein files provided by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The documents being released include nearly 34,000 pages, which feature the DOJ’s interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and videos that appear to show the inside of Epstein’s Palm Beach home. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., had subpoenaed the DOJ in early August for all documents related to the investigation of Epstein and Maxwell. This subpoena was approved by a bipartisan vote during a House Oversight Committee hearing in July.

During a House Rules Committee meeting, Comer stated, “This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date, and we are getting results.” He highlighted that former Attorney General Bill Barr had been deposed, and the DOJ had provided thousands of documents for release to the public.

Despite this, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the committee, claimed that the majority of the documents were already public. The sudden release of these documents seems to be an attempt to counter an effort by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to push for a vote on their own bill to compel the DOJ to release information on Epstein.

Massie and Khanna are leading a discharge petition, which could force a vote by bypassing leadership if a majority of House members sign on. This move could potentially put Republican lawmakers in a difficult position as they weigh the political implications of supporting the petition.

Comer expressed confidence that the committee was already ahead of Massie and Khanna’s efforts, stating, “We’re going to go beyond it. We’re already getting the documents from the administration. I don’t think [the discharge petition is] necessary at all.”

In addition to deposing Barr and subpoenaing the DOJ, Comer’s panel has also issued subpoenas to former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, ex-FBI Director James Comey, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The investigation into Epstein and Maxwell continues to unfold, with new developments expected in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing investigation.

This article was written by Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the House of Representatives. For more news and updates, follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.