[Pages H3324-H3325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1050
                       RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES

  (Mr. Garcia of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demand that 
Donald Trump and our Attorney General come clean to the American people 
and release the Epstein files.

[[Page H3325]]

  Now, this weekend, Donald Trump said: ``Let's . . . not waste time 
and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.''
  Well, Mr. President, a lot of people actually care. We know that MAGA 
was all in on Jeffrey Epstein. My Republican colleagues have sent 
letters, they have posted, and they have demanded disclosure. Donald 
Trump, Jr., the President's own son, has tweeted dozens of times about 
this case.
  FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath in front of the Senate that 
he would be transparent with the American public and release the 
Epstein files. He said: ``Make sure the American public knows the full 
weight of what happened.''
  He said that he would do that. That was his quote.
  Now, in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told FOX News that 
Epstein's client list is: ``Sitting on my desk right now to review.''
  Now, they claim there was never a list. This weekend, Donald Trump 
claimed that the files were written by Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the 
Biden administration.
  These are bizarre reversals. It is obvious to the American public 
that someone is lying, and someone is trying to hide something.
  Let's look at the facts. We know Elon Musk said publicly on June 5 
that Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files. We know that 
Epstein died in a Federal prison overseen by Donald Trump's Department 
of Justice. We know that Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 was given a generous 
nonprosecution agreement for sex trafficking charges. That agreement 
let him continue his criminal activities, and that agreement was 
offered by Alexander Acosta, who is Donald Trump's chosen Secretary of 
Labor.
  That is not all. We know that Donald Trump and Epstein had a 
longstanding personal relationship. Epstein told one writer: ``I was 
Donald Trump's closest friend for 10 years.''
  Donald Trump told New York magazine in 2002: ``I've known Jeff for 15 
years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that 
he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the 
younger side. No doubt about it, Jeffrey enjoys his social life.''
  That is disgusting, wrong, and we must require more information. The 
truth is, we don't know what the facts are in this case.
  I can't explain why the Trump administration has changed their minds 
on Epstein, but their behavior raises questions. This is the time that 
we must demand answers, and the Oversight Committee is going to do just 
that.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain in engaging 
in personalities toward the President and to direct their remarks to 
the Chair.

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