House Democrats urge DOJ to appoint independent special counsel in Epstein investigation
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are pressing the Justice Department to name an independent special counsel to examine evidence linking President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, citing alleged DOJ obstruction.
House Judiciary Committee Democrats released a report on Monday calling for an independent special counsel to investigate evidence of President Donald Trump’s alleged criminal ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The report states that there is “more than sufficient evidence to launch a criminal investigation.”
Democrats argue that the Justice Department, led by Attorney General Todd Blanche, is unable or unwilling to pursue the matter, and they contend that an independent counsel is needed because of perceived conflicts of interest.
“The women who survived Epstein deserve to be heard, Congress must have the complete files required by law, and an independent special counsel must investigate Epstein’s co-conspirators and DOJ’s cover-up and ensure that state and foreign prosecutors have the evidence they need to pursue justice,” Rep. Jamie Raskin said.
The White House spokesperson Lauren Bis dismissed the report, calling it “nothing more than a desperate attempt by crazed Democrats to distract Americans from the surging Republican momentum driven by President Trump’s historic achievements.”
A Justice Department spokesperson described the report as “nothing more than a last-ditch effort by House Judiciary Democrats to mislead the public,” while noting that the department has complied with the Epstein Transparency Act by releasing nearly three million investigatory documents and offering unredacted access to members of Congress.
The report also references a bipartisan law passed in November that mandated the release of millions of documents related to the Epstein case, which mention President Trump thousands of times. Democrats say the DOJ’s handling of those files suggests a cover-up, and they warn that without a special counsel, Congress may need to rely on its oversight powers to pursue accountability.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal activity, stating that he cut ties with the financier before the allegations became public. In a 2002 interview, Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” and a “lot of fun to be with,” remarks made before any public accusations.
Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting federal sex-trafficking and conspiracy charges. His only conviction was for a 2008 state-level plea deal on solicitation of prostitution involving minors.