House Judiciary Committee Democrats on Monday released a report urging the appointment of a special counsel to investigate President Trump's alleged connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The report claims that five of eleven women who have linked Trump to Epstein's crimes have directly accused him of rape or sexual assault in Epstein's presence.
The report also accuses Attorney General Todd Blanche and former Attorney General Pam Bondi of running the Department of Justice like a private law firm for Trump, allegedly suppressing evidence that implicates him. "Instead of pursuing justice for Epstein's survivors, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Attorney General Blanche have been running DOJ like a private legal defense firm for their former client," the report states. "Determined to protect the President at any cost, DOJ itself now leads the cover-up of Epstein's sex trafficking operation."
Democrats argue that a special counsel is necessary to investigate not only Trump but also all Epstein co-conspirators and to pursue criminal charges. Ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said, "Donald Trump says he knew Jeffrey Epstein 'just like everybody in Palm Beach knew him.' Not exactly. Evidence involving 11 women tells a completely different and far more damning story about their relationship and the abuse of young women and girls that took place in their network."
Bondi testified before the committee in February, asserting that "there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime." Democrats have also highlighted the frequency of Trump's name in Epstein-related files, noting that FBI Director Kash Patel previously claimed it appeared fewer than 1,000 times.
Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein, insisting he was not friendly with him, never visited Epstein's private island, and never flew on his plane. He has also claimed he turned down an invitation to the island. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis dismissed the report as "nothing more than a desperate attempt by crazed Democrats to distract Americans from the surging Republican momentum driven by President Trump's historic achievements." She added that Trump "kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club at Mar-a-Lago because he was a creep, and he has been fully exonerated."
The report comes amid ongoing political battles over the Epstein case, with Democrats pressing for transparency and accountability. The push for a special counsel reflects broader concerns about DOJ independence under the current administration. This development follows Democratic threats to force out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if Trump won't act, signaling heightened tensions between the party and the executive branch.
Critics of the report, however, question the timing and motives, suggesting it is a political maneuver. The White House maintains that Trump has been fully exonerated, and no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented. As the debate continues, the call for a special counsel adds another layer of scrutiny to the president's past associations.
