On the first night back from August recess, Rep. Thomas Massie named more than a dozen associates he said aided convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in his crimes.
Watch Massie’s remarks in the player above.
Speaking from the House floor Monday, the Kentucky Republican pointed to how much time had passed since President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compelled the Department of Justice to release millions of files and documents related to Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes.
Massie said the government is still withholding more than 3 million files. He then named 14 people, including former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley, billionaire investor Leon Black, and billionaire businessman Les Wexner, all of whom have appeared before the House committee investigating Epstein’s crimes to answer questions about their relationships to the late financier.
Massie also named Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew who was stripped of his royal titles after revelations about his friendship with Epstein came to light. Former Epstein assistant Lesley Groff, who also sat for a closed-door interview with the House committee this year, was “not a victim,” Massie continued, accusing her of conspiring with Epstein on trafficking women.
All those named by Massie have appeared in the documents released by the DOJ. Inclusion in the Epstein files doesn’t necessarily indicate wrongdoing, but many of the prominent names have faced fallout. The DOJ has faced mounting scrutiny over some of the agency’s redactions.
“Perhaps hearing these names will shame the Department of Justice into delivering justice,” he said.
Massie launched a discharge petition for an Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which the lawmaker said would give state courts more access to files to pursue its prosecutions and provide closure to survivors. He said he’s begun collecting the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote on the measure. Massie would need three additional Republicans to sign on if all Democrats in the chamber support it.
Massie told the Washington Times that if three Republicans aren’t willing to sign the petition before the midterms, he was confident he could reach the 218 threshold after the November elections if Democrats retake the House majority.
