House committee issues subpoenas for Epstein files, depositions with Clintons and other officials
The Republican-controlled committee also issued subpoenas for depositions with former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and eight former top law enforcement officials.
The committee's actions showed how even with lawmakers away from Washington on a monthlong break, interest in the Epstein files is still running high. Donald Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago, and he has repeatedly tried to move past the Justice Department's decision not to release a full accounting of the investigation. But lawmakers from both major political parties, as well as many in the Republican president's political base, have refused to let it go.
Since Epstein's 2019 death in a New York jail cell as he awaited trial for sex trafficking charges, conservative conspiracists have stoked theories about what information investigators gathered on Epstein — and who else could have been involved. Republican lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee nodded to that line of questioning last month by initiating the subpoenas for the Clintons, both Democrats, as well as demanding all communications between President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and the Justice Department regarding Epstein.
The committee is also demanding interviews under oath from former attorneys general spanning the last three presidential administrations: Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder and Alberto Gonzales. Lawmakers also subpoenaed former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.
However, it was Democrats who sparked the move to subpoena the Justice Department for its files on Epstein. They were joined by some Republicans to successfully initiate the subpoena through a subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee.
'Democrats are focused on transparency and are pushing back against the corruption of Donald Trump,' Rep. Robert Garcia, who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told reporters last month. 'What is Donald Trump hiding that he won't release the Epstein files?'
The committee had previously issues a subpoena for an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, who had been serving a prison sentence in Florida for luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the wealthy financier but was recently transferred to a Texas facility. However, the committee's Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer, has indicated he is willing to delay that deposition until after the Supreme Court decides whether to hear an appeal to her conviction. She argues she was wrongfully prosecuted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
She Got a Restraining Order After Her Boyfriend Threw Her Down the Stairs. Then He Shot Her — and Himself
'It's a very dangerous time when a woman wants to leave, whether or not there's an order in place,' says Abdula R. Greene, a former domestic violence prosecutor. 'Now the aggressor sees they don't have the control.'NEED TO KNOW Alanna Singleton was killed by her boyfriend, Paul Varnado, in a murder-suicide on Aug. 3 Varnado had a history of violence, including throwing Singleton down the stairs Experts note that attempts to leave abusive relationships, even with legal protections, can escalate danger as abusers often react violently to losing controlA New Orleans woman was killed in a murder-suicide by her boyfriend less than two months after a protective order against him was filed on her behalf. According to authorities, on Aug. 3., at around 9:40 a.m., 54-year-old Paul Varnado shot and killed his 54-year-old girlfriend, Alanna Singleton, at her home before killing himself, WAFB, 4WWL and WBRZ reported, citing court records. The courts had recently enacted a protective order that said Varnado had to stay at least 100 yards away from Singleton after he threw her down a flight of stairs during a fight on June 24, per the local outlets. Authorities said their fight started after Varnado accused Singleton of having his car keys and cellphone, 4WWL reported, citing court records. An arrest affidavit detailed that Singleton was left bleeding and severely bruised after the fight. Varnado was arrested that day for domestic abuse battery, booked and then released after signing a protective order. But despite the court order, Varnado continued to contact Singleton upon release, the local outlets reported, citing authorities. This marked the second time Singleton had filed a restraining order against Varnado in recent months. A previous order was issued in March and dropped on May 14, per WAFB. This one, however, was still active at the time of the shooting and remained in effect through the end of to Domestic Shelters, a leading source in domestic violence prevention, many times protection orders can enrage an abuser and lead to increased abuse upon seeing that their victim is breaking free from their cycle of abuse. 'It's a very dangerous time when a woman wants to leave, whether or not there's an order in place,' Abdula R. Greene, a former domestic violence prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, wrote to Domestic Shelters. 'Now the aggressor sees they don't have the control and oftentimes they want to take the control back.' If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 24/7. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ryan Walters' TV may have been tuned into 1985 Jackie Chan movie, Oklahoma lawmaker says
Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert says he believes a 1985 movie starring Jackie Chan might have been what was showing on a television set in state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters during a closed session held as part of last month's state Board of Education meeting. Hilbert said on Tuesday, Aug. 5 that he believes "The Protector" was on the TV when two board members said they saw nude women on the screen. Their reports have gained national attention and prompted an investigation by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. Hilbert said he does not believe the movie was shown on purpose by Walters or his staff or as part of a conspiracy to target him. "In my opinion, the most plausible explanation for what occurred that day is that the television, which had only been in the superintendent's office for fewer than two months, automatically launched Samsung's free streaming service and began playing a film that contained explicit content, without anyone in the room realizing it at the time," Hilbert said. The sheriff's office confirmed its investigation of the incident is ongoing. (This story is developing and will be updated.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What was on Ryan Walters' TV? A Jackie Chan movie, lawmaker says Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Says He'd Use National Guard Or Military To Keep 2028 Olympics Safe
President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that 'we would do anything necessary to keep our Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military.' Trump made the comments after he signed an executive order establishing a task force on the 2028 games, a group that includes cabinet secretaries and administration officials, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. More from Deadline Robert Thompson, CEO Of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Jabs Donald Trump For Backing "Blatant Theft" By AI: "The Art Of The Deal Has Become The Art Of The Steal" FoxLA Anchor Elex Michaelson Is Leaving Station Thousands Of Writers Sign WGA Open Letter Slamming Trump's "Unprecedented, Authoritarian Assault" On Free Press Trump's comment about using the National Guard or military follows his dispatch of troops to Los Angeles in response to protests of ICE raids. His decision to federalize the guard was opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who said that the show of federal force inflamed the situation. At a White House event establishing the task force, the chair of the Olympic organizing committee, Casey Wasserman, had nothing but praise for the president, including his assistance during his first term in ensuring that Los Angeles was selected as host city. Wasserman compared the process of organizing events to producing 'seven Super Bowls a day for 30 days.' The city will host about 11,000 Olympic athletes and 4,500 Paralympic athletes, participating in 800 competitions at 49 venues. He also said that for the first time, the Olympic torch relay will pass through all 50 states. Trump undoubtedly would like to put his stamp on the games, even though planning has been taking place for years. The task force's functions, per the executive order, are to coordinate federal planning and response related to security, transportation, and entry/exit processes; to support interagency and state and local information sharing; to identify legal, logistical, or regulatory barriers that could stymie federal support; to assist in visa processing and credentialing; and to ensure operational readiness across law enforcement, counterterrorism, transportation and emergency response. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law last month, included $1 billion for Olympics security and other costs. Wasserman said that the funding 'will be used by local and state agencies and the federal government to make sure that our games are safe and secure and ultimately the best place to experience and be an Olympic fan.' Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Paramount's 'Regretting You' Adaptation So Far Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
