Exclusive—Ro Khanna Vows to 'Fight With Everything' to Reveal Epstein Files
Representative Ro Khanna vowed in an interview with Newsweek to "fight with everything" to secure the release of the Epstein files.
Why It Matters
House Republicans voted against an effort introduced by Khanna, a California Democrat, that would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the Epstein files within 30 days.
Trump indicated on the campaign trail that he could release the documents related to Epstein, who was arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking and died by suicide in a New York federal jail a month later while awaiting trial. There have long been rumors of an Epstein "client list," though no such document has ever been made public. Epstein's former girlfriend and associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced in 2022 for aiding Epstein in the trafficking of minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
However, a recent memo from the Department of Justice and the FBI said there was no "client list" and that no further charges would be brought. Trump has also called on his supporters to move past what he describes as the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax," sparking outrage from many of his supporters.
What to Know
Khanna told Newsweek he was "disappointed" by the fact that Republicans voted against his measure, but that he plans to keep fighting for the release of the Epstein files.
Representative Ro Khanna speaks during a rally in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2022. Jeffrey Epstein appears in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on September 8, 2004.
Representative Ro Khanna speaks during a rally in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2022. Jeffrey Epstein appears in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on September 8, 2004.; Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images
"This is a matter of whose side are you on. Are you for protecting rich and powerful men or are you for making sure that there's accountability given that they abused, assaulted and abandoned young girls?" Khanna said. "A nation that does not hold powerful men accountable is a nation that has lost its moral purpose."
He and Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, plan to introduce a bill together that already has support from six Republicans, he said. He expects all Democrats will support it as well, meaning there will likely be a vote on the bill when Congress returns from recess in September.
"I am going to fight with everything I can just to make sure that this file gets released," he said.
Trump is "underestimating the anger people have" amid his latest statements on Epstein, Khanna said. The situation reveals a "core rottenness in our political system" that people want to see exposed, he said, adding that shining "sunlight" on these files is the "best thing we can do to restore people's trust in government."
"This is not just about Epstein. This is about rich and powerful men who are connected to the highest levels of government here and possibly overseas, who engage in the abuse and assault of young girls. And they're being treated with impunity," he said.
Trump and Epstein were connected socially in the early 2000s, but Trump distanced himself from Epstein following his 2019 arrest, saying he had not spoken to Epstein in 15 years and was "not a fan." Amid backlash over the administration's handling of the files, Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release "whatever she thinks is credible" regarding Epstein.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,'' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!"
Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico wrote on X: "Republicans in the House Rules Committee just stopped an amendment that, if passed, would force Congress to vote on whether the Trump Administration should release the Epstein files. What are they hiding?"
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X: "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump—and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me."
What Happens Next
The Epstein files may continue to be a political challenge for Trump, as polls suggest a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the matter. Khanna said Democrats have an opportunity to emphasize the issue to show themselves as the "populist party" that is listening to the concerns of Americans who want to see more transparency in the government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
11 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Request to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury transcripts likely to disappoint, ex-prosecutors say
NEW YORK — A Justice Department request to unseal grand jury transcripts in the prosecution of chronic sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend is unlikely to produce much, if anything, to satisfy the public's appetite for new revelations about the financier's crimes, former federal prosecutors say. Attorney Sarah Krissoff, an assistant U.S. attorney in Manhattan from from 2008 to 2021, called the request in the prosecutions of Epstein and imprisoned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell 'a distraction.' 'The president is trying to present himself as if he's doing something here and it really is nothing,' Krissoff told The Associated Press in a weekend interview. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche made the request Friday, asking judges to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings that resulted in indictments against Epstein and Maxwell, saying 'transparency to the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration.' The request came as the administration sought to contain the firestorm that followed its announcement that it would not be releasing additional files from the Epstein probe despite previously promising that it would. Epstein killed himself at age 66 in his federal jail cell in August 2019, a month after his arrest on sex trafficking charges, while Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence imposed after her December 2021 sex trafficking conviction for luring girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Krissoff and Joshua Naftalis, a Manhattan federal prosecutor for 11 years before entering private practice in 2023, said grand jury presentations are purposely brief. Naftalis said Southern District prosecutors present just enough to a grand jury to get an indictment but 'it's not going to be everything the FBI and investigators have figured out about Maxwell and Epstein.' 'People want the entire file from however long. That's just not what this is,' he said, estimating that the transcripts, at most, probably amount to a few hundred pages. 'It's not going to be much,' Krissoff said, estimating the length at as little as 60 pages 'because the Southern District of New York's practice is to put as little information as possible into the grand jury.' 'They basically spoon feed the indictment to the grand jury. That's what we're going to see,' she said. 'I just think it's not going to be that interesting. … I don't think it's going to be anything new.' Both ex-prosecutors said that grand jury witnesses in Manhattan are usually federal agents summarizing their witness interviews. That practice might conflict with the public perception of some state and federal grand jury proceedings, where witnesses likely to testify at a trial are brought before grand juries during lengthy proceedings prior to indictments or when grand juries are used as an investigatory tool. In Manhattan, federal prosecutors 'are trying to get a particular result so they present the case very narrowly and inform the grand jury what they want them to do,' Krissoff said. Krissoff predicted that judges who presided over the Epstein and Maxwell cases will reject the government's request. With Maxwell, a petition is before the U.S. Supreme Court so appeals have not been exhausted. With Epstein, the charges are related to the Maxwell case and the anonymity of scores of victims who have not gone public is at stake, although Blanche requested that victim identities be protected. 'This is not a 50-, 60-, 80-year-old case,' Krissoff noted. 'There's still someone in custody.' She said citing 'public intrigue, interest and excitement' about a case was likely not enough to convince a judge to release the transcripts despite a 1997 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said judges have wide discretion and that public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information. Krissoff called it 'mind-blowingly strange' that Washington Justice Department officials are increasingly directly filing requests and arguments in the Southern District of New York, where the prosecutor's office has long been labeled the 'Sovereign District of New York' for its independence from outside influence. 'To have the attorney general and deputy attorney general meddling in an SDNY case is unheard of,' she said. Cheryl Bader, a former federal prosecutor and Fordham Law School criminal law professor, said judges who presided over the Epstein and Maxwell cases may take weeks or months to rule. 'Especially here where the case involved witnesses or victims of sexual abuse, many of which are underage, the judge is going to be very cautious about what the judge releases,' she said. Bader said she didn't see the government's quest aimed at satisfying the public's desire to explore conspiracy theories 'trumping — pardon the pun — the well-established notions of protecting the secrecy of the grand jury process.' 'I'm sure that all the line prosecutors who really sort of appreciate the secrecy and special relationship they have with the grand jury are not happy that DOJ is asking the court to release these transcripts,' she added. Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice, called Trump's comments and influence in the Epstein matter 'unprecedented' and 'extraordinarily unusual' because he is a sitting president. He said it was not surprising that some former prosecutors are alarmed that the request to unseal the grand jury materials came two days after the firing of Manhattan Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, who worked on the Epstein and Maxwell cases. 'If federal prosecutors have to worry about the professional consequences of refusing to go along with the political or personal agenda of powerful people, then we are in a very different place than I've understood the federal Department of Justice to be in over the last 30 years of my career,' he said. Krissoff said the uncertain environment that has current prosecutors feeling unsettled is shared by government employees she speaks with at other agencies as part of her work in private practice. 'The thing I hear most often is this is a strange time. Things aren't working the way we're used to them working,' she said.
Boston Globe
11 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Suspect in border patrol shooting allegedly has a Massachusetts warrant for kidnapping
Advertisement 'The CBP officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous skill and courage,' Trump said. 'The Democrats have flooded our nation with criminal invaders, and now, they must all be thrown out or, in some cases, immediately prosecuted in that we cannot take a chance that they are able to come back.' At 11:51 p.m. Saturday, New York Police Department officers responded to a 911 call of a person shot in Riverside Park in Upper Manhattan, a police spokesperson said. 'Upon arrival, officers were informed that two unidentified individuals had approached a 42-year-old male and a 40-year-old female from behind on a moped,' the police spokesperson said. One of the individuals then confronted the victims with a firearm, the police spokesperson said. Advertisement 'The male victim then displayed his own firearm and an exchange of gunfire ensued. The victim was shot twice, once in the left cheek and once in the right forearm,' the police spokesperson said. 'The suspect fled the scene on the moped in an unknown direction.' In a statement to the Globe Sunday, McLaughlin said the Saturday evening incident looked like an attempted robbery. The police spokesperson said there are no arrests at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing. The spokesperson did not respond to questions about which victim was the off-duty border patrol officer or the identity of the other victim. The Department of Homeland Security posted UPDATE: footage shows two assailants, one an illegal alien with criminal charges, ambushing and shooting a — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) This is a developing story. Marcela Rodrigues can be reached at
Newsweek
12 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Texas Governor Says He'll Introduce Flood Items at Special Session
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday that flood-related legislation will be a priority during the upcoming Legislative Special Session beginning Monday. Abbott added four flood preparedness items to the session agenda following flooding over the Fourth of July weekend that killed at least 135 people across the Lone Star State. Newsweek has reached out to Abbott's office via email on Sunday for comment. Why It Matters The devastating floods exposed critical gaps in Texas's disaster preparedness infrastructure, particularly in the Hill Country region where many communities lack adequate warning systems. Kerr County, which suffered the majority of casualties, does not have a flood warning system despite missed opportunities over the past decade to finance one. The legislative response could fundamentally reshape how Texas prepares for and responds to natural disasters, potentially saving lives in future extreme weather events. President Donald Trump later announced on Truth Social that he had approved a "Major Disaster Declaration" for the deadly floods. What To Know The special session will address flood warning systems, emergency communications, relief funding for Hill Country floods, and natural disaster preparation and recovery. Most deaths occurred along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, where the Hill Country's dry, dirt-packed soil cannot absorb heavy rainfall. Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls, lost at least 27 campers and counselors in the flooding. The state's House and Senate have formed special committees on flooding and disaster preparedness, planning a July 31 visit to Kerrville to hear from residents. Texas state Representative Don McLaughlin, a Republican, has already introduced legislation requiring the state's top public health official to set building standards for youth camps in 100-year floodplains. The committees will begin with a joint hearing Wednesday examining the state's response, flood planning, infrastructure management, and first responder communications. Abbott initially called the special session to address other issues, including THC product regulation and congressional redistricting at Trump's request. The 30-day session now includes 17 total agenda items beyond the flood-related measures. Special session begins tomorrow. I included 4 items to address flood preparedness and recovery: Flood warning systems Flood emergency communications Relief funding Natural disaster prep & recovery We must ensure better preparation in the — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 20, 2025 What People Are Saying Texas Governor Greg Abott wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: "Special session begins tomorrow. I included 4 items to address flood preparedness and recovery: Flood warning systems, Flood emergency communications, Relief funding, Natural disaster prep & recovery We must ensure better preparation in the future." Dalton Rice, Kerrville City Manager, said in a statement: "We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community. Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three." Rice continued: "This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time." Rob Kelly, Kerr County Judge, said in a statement: "To every member of law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency management, and supporting agencies — thank you. Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many." Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
