https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/21/congress-epstein-oversight-subpoenas-00882501Members of both parties have for months been hijacking House Oversight Committee business to call votes on subpoenas for high-profile figures in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation — and Democrats say chair James Comer has quietly instituted a new strategy to contain the practice.The Kentucky Republican’s workaround, they allege, is to hold “roundtables” on various issues within the panel’s jurisdiction rather than hearings. Roundtables are more informal and don’t permit members to offer motions to subpoena witnesses during unrelated committee business, as is allowed during hearings.Over the past year, some GOP members have joined with Democrats to take advantage of the panel’s subpoena rules. In July, they voted on a surprise motion to release the full Epstein files when top congressional Republicans were dragging their feet. Lawmakers also compelled now-former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify and were prepared to haul in Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, too, before he said he would appear before the committee voluntarily.This trend is outlined in a new memo prepared by Oversight Democratic staff, obtained by POLITICO, which claims that by moving to roundtables, Republicans “are avoiding the only forum where Democrats can force votes, demand documents, and hold the majority accountable.”“We’ve heard from committee members, both Republicans and Democrats, that they are frustrated,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said in an interview Monday. “We have important investigative work, and they want to do this right as we are in the middle of this single, largest government cover-up in the modern history of the Congress. And they want to neuter the Oversight Committee. Give me a break.”
>>1508113Still waiting for the full files to be released
A spokesperson for Oversight Republicans, when reached for comment, did not address a question about whether the uptick in roundtables was intended to prevent subpoena votes. The spokesperson said the panel “continues to hold many hearings” and will host a markup on fraud prevention legislation next week.“Roundtables provide opportunities to have more substantive and direct conversations with ordinary Americans about issues facing communities across the U.S.,” the spokesperson said.But the members’ subpoena free-for-all over the past nine months has undoubtedly created a complicated political dynamic for Comer. He has become the de facto leader of the congressional Epstein probe, forcing him to balance calls for transparency with the political fallout of Trump’s onetime relationship with the late, convicted sex offender.Republicans have noticed the connection between the spike in subpoenas and the subsequent increase in roundtables in lieu of hearings.Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), during a March subcommittee roundtable on mental health issues, at one point said, “It’s no secret why we are not doing a formal hearing today. We’d like this hearing to be solely focused on the issue before you, and there is some concern that — both parties are guilty of this — that they make motions in the middle of the hearing and try to bring up unrelated topics.”Republicans have also gone on subpoena sprees of their own, most notably by forcing the February depositions of Bill and Hillary Clinton.Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) suggested she wasn’t happy about the new status quo. While stopping short of criticizing roundtables directly, she said in an interview, “I am a fan of committees that like to do the motions to subpoena.”
The last full-committee hearing convened by House Oversight was in March, on fraud in Minnesota. At that hearing, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina forced a vote to subpoena Bondi for her handling of the federal Epstein investigation. Five Republicans joined all Democrats present in voting for the subpoena motion, and Bondi’s recent ouster isn’t quelling calls for her to appear before the panel under oath.Since that time, first lady Melania Trump delivered a public statement denying she was ever victimized by Epstein and urging Congress to hold hearings with true victims — an entreaty that could resonate with Mace and others who are bought into the subpoena exercise, though Comer has indicated he plans on having such hearings.In the meantime, Oversight subcommittees have held five roundtables this year alone on topics such as artificial intelligence and the Internal Revenue Service. The full committee is scheduled to convene a sixth roundtable Tuesday morning addressing “lawfare against American agriculture.”That’s compared to the two subcommittee roundtables listed for all of 2025; Comer hosted no full committee roundtables since becoming chair in 2023, the panel’s website shows.Several Oversight Republicans said in interviews they appreciate the opportunity to examine policy areas without the partisan mudslinging and subpoena distractions that Oversight has become known for this term.“When you’re really trying to get to the bottom of something, it’s a much more conducive way of doing it,” said Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.).Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) argued during a recent committee hearing on the misuse of federal funds in Minnesota that the subpoena-happy approach taken by his colleagues is undermining the seriousness of the panel’s work.
>>1508114Republicans will never allow the full release of the Epstein/trump files. Which the article is confirming. Because it would implicate their leader. If not leadership.
>>1508113Democrats quashed the Epstein investigation under their watch4 years, Janaury 20th 2021 to January 20th 2025ZERO DOCUMENTS RELEASED BY JOE BIDEN OR HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND
>>1508134already does
>>1508145>BUHBUHBUHBUT BIDEN!!!!Like clockwork lmao. Not that you care, shill-kun, but there was an active investigation, so it legally couldnt be released, unlike now
>>1508147So how much of Epstein's criminal network was Merrick Garland able to go after while there was that active investigation?How many pedos in the files did Biden's AG arrest because of that active investigation?
>>1508149Same as the pedos that "your guy" has arrested: zero
>>1508151Sounds like Merrick Garland slow rolled the investigation so Biden would never have to deal with it
>>1508147>>1508151Reminder you are engaging with a classic Russian/Republican tactic to distract from the trump regime's pedophilia.https://files.catbox.moe/1nmmn6.jpg
>>1508152Copium. You are a pedophile lover
>>1508153It's a Russian tactic to point out that Democrats are guilty of what they are accusing Republicans of doing?
>>1508156yeah. american politicians are beholden to one thing: israel
>>1508156How many times are Barack Obama and Joe Biden mentioned in the Epstein files?
>>1508159Look, its not fairDemocrats are cheating by having more voters than MAGA, and Trump can't do everything Israel tells him to do if he needs to answer to Democrats. Stop destroying America, stop saying men are women, and just roll over and let this be a bloodless revolution already. You're cheating, dems are cheating
>>1508159How many emails between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein are in the files?How many phone calls or text messages between them are in the files?How many emails are there between Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps inner circle in the files, like Don Jr, Jared Kushner, Ivanka or Melania Trump?ZERO
>>1508172>ZEROBecause those files have not been released, you Пeтyх cock
>>1508172>How many emails between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein are in the files?Donald Trump infamously doesn't use email. >How many emails are there between Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps inner circle in the files, like Don Jr, Jared Kushner, Ivanka or Melania Trump?Not only are various Trump allies like Steve Bannon in the files, but there's literally a conversation in Epstein's emails where he references meeting with the Trump sons in Florida in 2017.
GOP in shambles!Two more weeks!
>>1508199Yeah they keep extending having Bondi testify on why she broke the law to hide the files two more weeks. We'll see how long it lasts after their inevitable midterm massacre.
>>1508156Last I checked it was trump who had Epstein murdered and is still illegally hiding the files.
>>1508197*crickets*
>>1508201>murderedwe all know that he's is walking around free as a bird in tel aviv
>>1508145>>1508149>>1508153>>1508156https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/why-were-epstein-files-not-released-biden/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/6/fact-check-did-democrats-take-action-over-epstein-case-transparency
>>1508172>How many emails are there between Jeffrey Epstein and Trumps inner circle in the files, like Don Jr, Jared Kushner, Ivanka or Melania Trump?>ZERONot exactly true. He was emailing to meet with donald trump jr in 2019: https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01028066.pdf
>>1508268That makes trump look even worse.
>>1508308When Maxwell was charged in 2020, Democrats continued to push for transparency.After Biden took office in 2021, Democrats appeared to dial back their public calls for Epstein records’ release.“Pushes for oversight and record releases were at times tempered by a need to respect both the victims’ pursuit of justice in courts and their fears of reprisals,” Wasserman Schultz told PolitiFact. “As disclosures were denied or delayed, we did what lawmakers do and legislated to protect future victims.”In February 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed a bill to allow the release of Epstein 2006 grand jury testimony after a similar effort failed in previous state legislative sessions. Frankel praised the legislation.A Palm Beach judge released records in July 2024, which showed prosecutors had heard testimony about how Epstein sexually assaulted two teenage girls before they gave Epstein a plea deal. Frankel again repeated her push for an explanation.In September 2024, Wasserman Schultz along with Representative Burgess Owens, introduced a bill, similar to earlier proposals, to require prosecutors to inform victims of such plea deals. The bill did not receive a vote.
>>1508197>but there's literally a conversation in Epstein's emails where he references meeting with the Trump sons in Florida in 2017.Great, so what is the evidence? Do you have any emails, phone calls or text messages between Epstein and the Trump Sons?
>>1508362It's like the emails between Trump and Epstein, they didn't release the corroborating evidence yet and if you ask for that you are stupid for asking
>>1508362>Great, so what is the evidence?https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01028066.pdf>can we do a coffee with don jr thurs fri?This isn't even the only email in the ones we have right now referencing Epstein meeting with members of the Trump family as late as literally the same year as his death.
>>1508535To Andrew Farkas. >In my mind, in my imagination, it was real.
>>1508536...from Epstein's email. Are you literally saying his own private emails are fucking fake?
>>1508539Why in the fuck to l do you even exist?To Andrew Farkas, not any of the dRumpfs.
>>1508542>Guys he didn't send it to the Trumps>But he did absolutely admit to being in contact with them well after Trump claims all contact with him was cut
>>1508545Context? I stopped following the Epstein shit after Democrats turned it into fake and gay bullshit.
>>1508113>Republicans “are avoiding the only forum where Democrats can force votes, demand documents, and hold the majority accountable.”This is likely good policy.
>>1508539Epstein emailing Andrew Farkas about the Trumps is not corroborating evidence, and is not an email exchange between Don Jr and Jeffrey Epstein.You are talking around the lack of any direct connection or communication between Epstein and Trump. You will say Epstein emailing someone that he is Trumps best friend is proof that he is Trumps best friend, and the fact that there are no emails texts or phone calls between these supposed best friends is irrelevant
>>1508561you'd be better off trying to change the subject, shill anon. this defense is just sad
>>1508113All the Democrats have to do is wait until after the midterms when they control both houses, then they can continue the Epstein investigation. And there's nothing the Gang Of Pedophiles can do about it.
>>1508561>Epstein literally talking repeatedly in his private emails about how he's meeting with the Trumps well after they supposedly cut contact means nothing!If anything this makes the lack of emails between him and any of them even more suspect. Either they deliberately weren't communicating through email, or there ARE emails between him and Trump's kids that are among the thousands they refuse to release.
>>1508593Okay but where is the corroboration? When he is repeatedly meeting with the trumps do we have text messages phone calls or emails between Epstein and the Trumps? Show me
>>1508593>thousands they refuse to release.MIGA really are dumb enough to think that Trump covering up the bulk of the Epstein documents means that he's innocentSomeone should make a fake email pretending to be from Hunters laptop linking Trump and Epstein
>>1508626Joe Biden covered up all of the Epstein documents. His Attorney General prosecuted 0 pedos in the files. What do you think that means?
>>1508634I think it means you've been completely taken over by Israeli propagandaIt would be concerning if you were an American
I dont give a fuck what Buden did. Since a new admin took over, then theres nothing stopping them from starting a new investigation the way they want. >they haveAwsome! I'm glad. Wheres the string of arrests under the new admin? People always talk about executing the pedos. Well nows the time. Get to work.
>>1508637So why don't you correct the recordHow many Epstein documents were released to the public during Joe Biden's presidency?How many pedos in the files were prosecuted by his attorney general Merrick Garland?
