House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dismissed allegations that he had dinner with Jeffrey Epstein or solicited donations from the disgraced financier, calling House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer a ‘stone-cold liar.’ The confrontation came after Comer cited emails from the Department of Justice’s recently disclosed documents, which appeared to show Democratic fundraisers contacting Epstein to invite him to a dinner with Jeffries. Jeffries denied any involvement and expressed anger at the accusation, stating it was part of an effort to divert attention from the House majority’s failures.
The House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the Department of Justice to release all its files on Jeffrey Epstein. The act was passed on Tuesday, and the Senate later adopted it unanimously. This law mandates the DOJ to disclose materials that were previously confidential. The bill’s passage has triggered a demand for greater transparency into whether Epstein used his connections to facilitate illegal sexual encounters for the wealthy and powerful in exchange for favors or to secure leverage over them.
While the Epstein Files Transparency Act has been passed, the files currently disclosed by the House Oversight Committee are not public because of the act’s enforcement. These materials were produced by the DOJ in cooperation with the committee’s requests. The bill is expected to release significantly more files than what the committee has already acquired. Speculation continues about which high-profile figures might surface in these expanded disclosures.
Jeffries, who voted in favor of the bill, expressed frustration at the suggestion that his name could be revealed in further disclosures. He emphasized that the accusations against him were part of a broader strategy to shift focus from the House majority’s shortcomings. These allegations come amid a growing public interest in understanding the full extent of Epstein’s influence and the potential ramifications of his connections with prominent figures. The debate continues to highlight broader concerns about transparency, accountability, and the impact of the Epstein case on political figures and institutions.