House Judiciary Democrats request public hearing on Epstein files

House Judiciary Democrats say there should be a public hearing regarding the files of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and called on officials from the Department of Justice and FBI to answer about how they have handled the files.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wrote a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan in which he said that the Trump administration had been suppressing information about Epstein. 

“President Trump and his top appointees at the DOJ and FBI have spent years advancing theories that ‘the Deep State’ has been suppressing the true magnitude of the child sex trafficking and abuse ring created by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates,” the letter reads, according to The Hill newspaper. 

The Trump administration has received backlash for how it has handled the files related to Epstein. Last week it was reported that FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi got into an argument over the matter, resulting in Bongino considering leaving the FBI. 

Epstein died in prison in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

“The Trump DOJ and FBI’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter, and President Trump’s suddenly shifting positions, have not restored anyone’s trust in the government but have rather raised profound new questions about their own conduct while increasing public paranoia related to the investigation," Raskin's letter continued. 

Raskin said there needs to be a bipartisan public hearing where officials at the federal agencies are questioned. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson also called for more transparency on the matter on Tuesday.