California Democrat Ro Khanna faced a setback on Monday as she sought to compel the release of Department of Justice files connected to the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna attempted to align with the strong backlash against Epstein by supporting amendments to controversial legislation related to cryptocurrency and national defense that mandated public disclosure of the files.
Though she didn’t succeed, Khanna pledged to keep pushing for transparency.
“This won’t be the end of our efforts. This was just our first attempt, but the public deserves clarity. We’ll continue to advocate for transparency,” she remarked.
Later that evening, the House Rules Committee declined her amendments with a 7-5 vote, a crucial step for any legislation to progress toward a vote.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) was the sole Republican on the panel to support Khanna’s initiative to unveil the Epstein files. Notably absent was Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), criticized for his earlier stance on the issue.
All Democrats united behind Khanna’s efforts.
It appears Democrats are eager to leverage the rising discontent regarding Epstein.
Key figures within this movement, like Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, and Tucker Carlson, have claimed the administration needs to be more forthcoming about Epstein.
Just last week, the DOJ released a report stating that Epstein took his own life and could not provide a client list. In response, President Trump urged his supporters to “not waste time” on Epstein’s case.
Khanna expressed her frustration after the Rules Panel vote, stating, “People are fed up; they are truly fed up.”
“We should prioritize America over party politics!” she insisted.
Meanwhile, California Democrats expressed hope that the release of the files would protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.
Other prominent Democrats, including New York’s minority leader Hakeem Jeffries and Maryland’s Rep. Jamie Raskin, are also advocating for the Trump administration to disclose these files.
“If there are additional individuals connected to these actions, failing to disclose their names poses a risk to public safety,” Raskin stated during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Deadline: The White House.”
