WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — House Republicans blocked a push by Democrats on Monday to force the Trump administration to release all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This occurred as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced an amendment requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish the files within 30 days.
The House Rules Committee voted 5-7 against the proposal, with only one Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), siding with Democrats. The defeat came ahead of a full House vote, where Republicans later used their slim majority to stop the amendment from moving forward. The final tally was 211-210.
Khanna stated that the effort was about accountability. He promised to keep bringing back the measure. “The question with Epstein is: Whose side are you on?” he told Axios. “Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, or are you on the side of the people?”
Despite the loss, Democrats believe political momentum is growing. Trump supporters, including some well-known figures from his administration, have shown frustration over the Justice Department’s refusal to release the files. Many in the MAGA base, who once spread conspiracy theories about Epstein’s connections to global elites, now accuse the Trump team of hiding important details.
This vote marked the second time Democrats tried to push action on the Epstein records. A similar attempt failed when House Rules Committee Republicans voted to keep the measure off a larger bill concerning cryptocurrency and defense funding.
Rep. Ralph Norman changed his stance. On Monday, he voted with Democrats in committee, saying, “The public’s been asking for it.” But on Tuesday, he joined Republicans, stating that Bondi has “an independent party” reviewing the documents.
Khanna posted on X after the vote: “Republicans blocked my amendment tonight. But @RepRalphNorman voted with us. We won’t stop until the files are released. This may have been our first attempt, but the public will not be gaslit.”
Democrats argue the GOP’s shift reveals a growing divide within Trump’s base. In 2024, Trump said he would release the Epstein files. But Bondi has avoided committing to that. In February, she acknowledged the so-called “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”
High-ranking Trump officials—including Vice President J.D. Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino—previously claimed the government was covering up Epstein’s connections. Now, they face questions about their inaction.
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) joined the call for transparency, urging a full public investigation. “We need accountability and answers,” he said.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) also weighed in. “Republicans spent years demanding the Epstein files be released. Now, Donald Trump wants to hide them,” he wrote on X. “Will they provide the American people with transparency or block the truth to protect Trump?”
Last week, the Trump administration released a memo denying the existence of an Epstein client list or any evidence of blackmail. This only fueled more questions among Trump supporters online, many of whom had previously spread similar claims.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said Republicans are trapped in a situation of their own making. “They stirred up a base that is demanding more information,” he said. “And because they’re more afraid of Trump than of their constituents, they’re giving him a shield.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged the growing concern. He said Attorney General Bondi “needs to come forward and explain that to everybody.” He added, “We should put everything out there and let the people decide.”
