Epstein scandal awaits Congress' return from break

Democrats want to keep focus on an issue that has roiled Trump and his MAGA base.

- BY MICHAEL WILNER

HOUSE Speaker Mike Johnson, right, called an early start to summer break.

WASHINGTON — The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein is back in Washington as Congress prepares to return for the fall.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called an early start to summer break in July, attempting to shut down bipartisan clamor for the full release of the Epstein files. But Democrats are eager to launch back into a scandal that has dogged President Trump and divided his MAGA base.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, plans to partner with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky to quickly force a vote on the House floor ordering the Justice Department to release its entire trove of documents from the investigation of Epstein, a convicted sex offender who abused hundreds of women and girls.

The success of the measure is far from guaranteed. It is unclear whether the Justice Department would even abide by it. But Democrats plan to make sure the issue does not go away, regardless of its outcome, multiple Democratic aides said.

Democratic lawmakers' focus on Epstein will be "high" out of the gate once Congress returns after Labor Day, one senior House Democratic staffer told The Times.

Republicans "will not want to be put in a position of voting against disclosure," said the staffer, who requested anonymity to share internal discussions. "The same thing that tripped up Johnson in July is still there."