House Oversight Republicans Release Final Epstein Report Citing Federal Failures, No Evidence Implicating Trump

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a 137-page report Tuesday concluding a 15-month investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. The report documents repeated investigative and prosecutorial failures that allowed Epstein’s abuse to continue for years and states that the committee identified no documents or witness testimony implicating President Donald Trump in criminal activity related to Epstein or Maxwell.

Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement accompanying the report that “the federal government has failed the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s horrific crimes for decades.” The investigation included 19 transcribed interviews or depositions, subpoenas to the Department of Justice, Epstein’s estate, and major banks, and a review of financial records from the Department of the Treasury and other sources. Witnesses included former President Bill Clinton, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and several of Epstein’s former associates.

The report criticizes the 2007 non-prosecution agreement brokered with Epstein in Florida, which allowed him to plead to lesser state charges and avoid federal prosecution at the time. It also notes failures to notify victims, understaffing and security lapses at the federal facility where Epstein died in 2019 (the official finding of suicide is not overturned), and shortcomings by financial institutions that identified compliance risks but did not adequately report indicators of human trafficking. The committee recommends that the Justice Department interview or re-interview key witnesses, investigate associates accused of criminal activity, and establish a process for survivors to access their personal records in unredacted form.

Specific recommendations include further examination of allegations made by former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen against former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, as well as additional questioning of another assistant, Lesley Groff, regarding her knowledge of Epstein’s activities. Both Kellen and Groff have previously stated they were unaware of the sexual abuse. The report also calls for stronger enforcement of conflict-of-interest policies in federal prosecutions and for Congress to pass legislation limiting the use of nondisclosure agreements that prevent survivors and witnesses from speaking publicly.

On the subject of President Trump, the report states that the consensus of witnesses examined was that, to their knowledge, he was not involved in any crimes committed by Epstein and Maxwell. It accuses committee Democrats of concentrating their efforts on the president rather than on the broader institutional failures that enabled the abuse. Trump has previously stated that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier after becoming aware of inappropriate behavior and has denied any knowledge of or participation in the criminal activity.

Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) responded that the Republican report is incomplete, that the committee held zero public hearings on the matter, and that the Justice Department continues to withhold documents. He said Democrats will continue the investigation after taking the majority in January, including public hearings that examine individuals who associated with Epstein. Democrats released their own report last month calling for an independent special counsel to examine Trump’s past social relationship with Epstein.

The Republican report also addresses the implementation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Department of Justice to release records. It notes that millions of pages, videos, and images were ultimately disclosed but criticizes missed deadlines, inconsistent redactions that in some cases exposed survivor information, and incomplete communication about the process. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who oversaw portions of the release, was later dismissed from her post.

The report is the final product of the Republican majority’s review ahead of the transition of House control. It recommends continued investigative work by the Justice Department on unresolved allegations against associates while documenting the committee’s findings that no evidence linked the president to the crimes.