Congress is set to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned sex trafficker and close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, amid a political firestorm over the Trump administration's refusal to release remaining Epstein files. Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee introduced a motion to compel Maxwell to testify before the House oversight committee, bypassing a planned meeting between Department of Justice officials and Maxwell.
Burchett stated, 'We got to send a message to these dirt bags,' referring to Epstein's clients and enablers. He added, 'We've just got to get to the bottom of this thing, folks. It's four years and we don't need to tolerate this stuff any more.' The move comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, shut down chamber operations early, sending lawmakers home a day before their scheduled five-week summer recess.
Separately, a New York judge ordered the Trump administration to provide more documents to support its request to release secret grand jury testimony from Maxwell's 2021 prosecution. Judge Paul Engelmayer noted missing submissions, including 'why disclosure is being sought' and 'what specific information is being sought.' The government must file a memorandum by 29 July, with Maxwell and victims responding by 5 August.
The Epstein issue has strained the Trump administration, with some supporters demanding more transparency. Burchett acknowledged potential 'blowback' but said, 'Ultimately, I'm gonna answer my creator on this issue.' He added that Maxwell 'is the last one standing' who can provide details on Epstein's operations.
