House Democrats seek Epstein special counsel over Trump allegations
House Judiciary Committee Democrats have demanded an independent investigation into President Donald Trump's links to Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that the Justice Department suppressed evidence and that Attorney General Todd Blanche interfered with questioning of a key witness.
A 53-page report released on Monday by the committee's Democratic staff examines accounts involving 11 women and alleges that five directly accused Trump of rape or sexual assault in Epstein's presence or company. The claims have not been established in court, and the report is not a finding endorsed by the Republican-controlled committee.
Representative Jamie Raskin, the panel's senior Democrat, called for a special counsel to examine possible offences involving Epstein's associates and the department's handling of evidence. He also urged fuller cooperation with state and overseas prosecutors investigating matters connected to Epstein.
Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing involving Epstein. Neither the White House nor the Justice Department had provided a substantive response to the report when it was released. The allegations against Blanche likewise remain accusations by Democratic investigators, not findings of criminal misconduct.
The report's most specific allegation concerning Blanche centres on his July 2025 interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted associate, while Blanche was deputy attorney general. Democrats say he repeatedly discouraged discussion of a woman identified as Jane, whose earlier account to the FBI described meeting Trump through Epstein at Mar-a-Lago when she was 14.
A transcript quoted in the report records Blanche saying, “Let's not talk about individuals.” Democratic investigators contend that his interventions could raise questions about witness tampering or obstruction because Maxwell was expected to appear before congressional investigators shortly afterwards. The transcript alone does not establish that Blanche committed either offence.
The committee staff also accused federal authorities of prematurely closing investigative avenues and withholding material that could illuminate allegations against Epstein's associates. Its findings draw on survivor interviews, FBI records and documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, alongside accounts that have circulated publicly for years.
Among the women discussed is Beatrice Keul, who told committee staff that Trump raped her during a November 1993 pageant at New York's Plaza Hotel. She alleged that Epstein approached her at the event and that Trump offered assistance with immigration arrangements and university admission. Her account is an allegation, not a judicially established event.
Former model Stacey Williams alleged that Trump groped her at Trump Tower while Epstein stood nearby. Jill Harth, whose allegations appeared in a 1997 lawsuit, accused Trump of unwanted sexual contact at Mar-a-Lago during a gathering also attended by Epstein. Trump has denied allegations of sexual misconduct.
The report additionally revisits an allegation made under the pseudonym Katie Johnson that Trump and Epstein sexually assaulted her when she was 13. Democrats claim records connected to that allegation have not been fully disclosed. The allegation has not been proved, and its inclusion does not establish the credibility of the underlying claim.
Another witness, Maria Farmer, described an encounter with Trump at Epstein's New York office that she considered threatening. Other accounts concern introductions allegedly arranged by Epstein or Maxwell. The report distinguishes these encounters from direct accusations of assault, although Democrats argue that the combined material warrants further examination.
Investigators also scrutinised Paolo Zampolli, a former modelling agent and Trump associate who served in his administration. They suggested he and Trump may have participated in Epstein's exploitation network during the 1990s. That assertion remains an investigative hypothesis rather than a criminal charge or established finding.
Democrats challenged Trump's statements about the extent of his friendship with Epstein, citing flight records and an account of a 2009 conversation concerning whether Epstein had been expelled from Mar-a-Lago. Disputes over those statements do not themselves prove involvement in Epstein's crimes.
The report was issued eight days before the November 3 congressional midterm elections, when control of the House will be contested. Raskin could assume the Judiciary Committee chairmanship if Democrats secure a majority, potentially giving the party greater authority to demand documents and testimony.
Under Justice Department procedures, appointment of a special counsel generally rests with the attorney general, making the Democrats' request particularly contentious because their report directly questions Blanche's conduct. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges; Maxwell is serving a prison sentence following her conviction for helping him abuse underage girls.
A 53-page report released on Monday by the committee's Democratic staff examines accounts involving 11 women and alleges that five directly accused Trump of rape or sexual assault in Epstein's presence or company. The claims have not been established in court, and the report is not a finding endorsed by the Republican-controlled committee.
Representative Jamie Raskin, the panel's senior Democrat, called for a special counsel to examine possible offences involving Epstein's associates and the department's handling of evidence. He also urged fuller cooperation with state and overseas prosecutors investigating matters connected to Epstein.
Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing involving Epstein. Neither the White House nor the Justice Department had provided a substantive response to the report when it was released. The allegations against Blanche likewise remain accusations by Democratic investigators, not findings of criminal misconduct.
The report's most specific allegation concerning Blanche centres on his July 2025 interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted associate, while Blanche was deputy attorney general. Democrats say he repeatedly discouraged discussion of a woman identified as Jane, whose earlier account to the FBI described meeting Trump through Epstein at Mar-a-Lago when she was 14.
A transcript quoted in the report records Blanche saying, “Let's not talk about individuals.” Democratic investigators contend that his interventions could raise questions about witness tampering or obstruction because Maxwell was expected to appear before congressional investigators shortly afterwards. The transcript alone does not establish that Blanche committed either offence.
The committee staff also accused federal authorities of prematurely closing investigative avenues and withholding material that could illuminate allegations against Epstein's associates. Its findings draw on survivor interviews, FBI records and documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, alongside accounts that have circulated publicly for years.
Among the women discussed is Beatrice Keul, who told committee staff that Trump raped her during a November 1993 pageant at New York's Plaza Hotel. She alleged that Epstein approached her at the event and that Trump offered assistance with immigration arrangements and university admission. Her account is an allegation, not a judicially established event.
Former model Stacey Williams alleged that Trump groped her at Trump Tower while Epstein stood nearby. Jill Harth, whose allegations appeared in a 1997 lawsuit, accused Trump of unwanted sexual contact at Mar-a-Lago during a gathering also attended by Epstein. Trump has denied allegations of sexual misconduct.
The report additionally revisits an allegation made under the pseudonym Katie Johnson that Trump and Epstein sexually assaulted her when she was 13. Democrats claim records connected to that allegation have not been fully disclosed. The allegation has not been proved, and its inclusion does not establish the credibility of the underlying claim.
Another witness, Maria Farmer, described an encounter with Trump at Epstein's New York office that she considered threatening. Other accounts concern introductions allegedly arranged by Epstein or Maxwell. The report distinguishes these encounters from direct accusations of assault, although Democrats argue that the combined material warrants further examination.
Investigators also scrutinised Paolo Zampolli, a former modelling agent and Trump associate who served in his administration. They suggested he and Trump may have participated in Epstein's exploitation network during the 1990s. That assertion remains an investigative hypothesis rather than a criminal charge or established finding.
Democrats challenged Trump's statements about the extent of his friendship with Epstein, citing flight records and an account of a 2009 conversation concerning whether Epstein had been expelled from Mar-a-Lago. Disputes over those statements do not themselves prove involvement in Epstein's crimes.
The report was issued eight days before the November 3 congressional midterm elections, when control of the House will be contested. Raskin could assume the Judiciary Committee chairmanship if Democrats secure a majority, potentially giving the party greater authority to demand documents and testimony.
Under Justice Department procedures, appointment of a special counsel generally rests with the attorney general, making the Democrats' request particularly contentious because their report directly questions Blanche's conduct. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges; Maxwell is serving a prison sentence following her conviction for helping him abuse underage girls.