The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee released a report Tuesday on its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, concluding that the federal government mishandled criminal investigations into the disgraced financier and failed survivors."Epstein operated with impunity, shielded and enabled by powerful connections and a justice system that repeatedly failed his victims," said committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky.The scathing report comes after 15 months of interviews with 19 people, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Many of the interviews were conducted behind closed doors, with transcripts released days later.Appearing in the Department of Justice's Epstein files or before the committee is not necessarily an indication of criminal wrongdoing.The report found that the facts revealed by the investigation do not suggest President Donald Trump was implicated in any of Epstein's crimes.
The report also accuses Democrats of launching an "unfounded witch hunt" by attempting to insinuate that Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes.Epstein was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and later died in prison.
Authorities determined his death was a suicide.Changing of the guardIn January, Democrats will take control of the House, with Rep.Robert Garcia (D-CA) expected to be at the helm of the committee.
In a statement Tuesday, Garcia criticized the report as "partisan.""Oversight Republicans have released a report based on an incomplete investigation and zero public hearings on Jeffrey Epstein," Garcia said."We intend to hold real public hearings uplifting survivors and asking tough questions of the powerful men who associated with Epstein, including Donald Trump.
Our work is just getting started."Trump has long maintained he had a falling out with the disgraced financier ...