The House Oversight Committee received documents from Jeffrey Epstein's estate on Monday afternoon that include a "birthday book" to Epstein allegedly containing a doodle from President Trump.
Why it matters: The files could provide fresh details about Epstein's network and dealings, and the Oversight Committee is expected to release redacted versions to the public.
- "Oversight Democrats just received the Epstein birthday book and additional documents from the Epstein estate. More soon," Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the panel, said in a post on X.
- The committee received the records in response to a subpoena issued in late August as part of its probe into Epstein.
- Democrats had been eager to obtain the book, in particular, in hopes of knocking down Trump's steadfast denial that he contributed to it.
State of play: The Oversight Committee probe comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Republican leaders are attempting to stop a vote on a resolution ordering the release of all the Epstein files.
- Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have obtained 215 of the 218 signatures they need on their discharge petition to force a vote on the measure.
- But Republican support has dried up for the rogue bipartisan effort as Republican leadership has gradually taken steps through the Oversight Committee to push for more documents.
What's next: The committee is expected to hear from several former government officials in the coming weeks, including former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.
- The Justice Department found Acosta showed "poor judgment" in approving Epstein's lenient 2008 plea deal.
- He's scheduled for a transcribed interview on Sept. 19.
