House Republicans defy Trump, subpoena Epstein files

House Oversight Chairman James Comer issued subpoenas on August 5, 2025, demanding Jeffrey Epstein FBI files and depositions from ten former officials, after a bipartisan 8-2 vote in the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee on July 23. Republicans Nancy Mace, Scott Perry, and Brian Jack joined four Democrats to compel DOJ to release Epstein files with victim names redacted. The subpoenas also directed depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton, six former attorneys general spanning both parties, and former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer issued subpoenas on Aug. 5, 2025, demanding the complete Jeffrey Epstein files and depositions from ten former officials — after two separate bipartisan votes in the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee on Jul. 23, 2025. In the first vote, three Republicans — Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and Brian Jack of Georgia — joined the subpanel's four Democrats and full-committee ranking member Robert Garcia in an 8-2 roll call to compel the DOJ to release Epstein files with victim names redacted. In a second voice vote that same day, Republicans and Democrats together directed Comer to subpoena depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton and six former attorneys general: Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales. Former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller also received deposition subpoenas; the committee later withdrew Mueller's subpoena after learning he had health issues preventing testimony. Clay Higgins of Louisiana and Andy Biggs of Arizona cast the only no votes on the DOJ files subpoena.