Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) will hold a joint press conference alongside former victims of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to help advocate a bill to release records relating to the disgraced financier.
Ten victims will testify on Wednesday, some of whom haven’t spoken since Epstein’s first arrest in 2005. Speaking with Fox News, Khanna predicted that “people are going to be outraged” by the victims’ statements.
“These victims haven’t spoken for decades. When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers,” Khanna said on Monday.
“My belief is, when the American people actually hear the victims for the first time, they are going to sympathize, their hearts are going to be broken, and all the victims are saying is for closure,” he predicted.
In a post on X, Massie jabbed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for his lack of support over the bill.
“I pray @SpeakerJohnson will listen to the pleas of these victims for justice and quit trying to block a vote on our legislation to release the Epstein files,” he said on Monday.
Khanna voiced optimism that he and Massie would have the votes to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would force the House to vote on the government’s complete release of files related to Epstein.
“We’ve got 212 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Look, this is not about Donald Trump, and it’s not partisan. This is about justice for the victims of rich and powerful men who abused underage girls,” he said.
RO KHANNA ‘VERY CONFIDENT’ CONGRESS WILL BACK BIPARTISAN EPSTEIN FILES BILL
Khanna tapped into populist rhetoric to stir up support for the bill, railing against “rich, powerful men, politicians, business leaders,” who have evaded accountability over their relationship with Epstein and alleged link to abuse.
The White House’s handling of the Epstein files invited rare internal criticism from Republicans, triggering a surge of criticism in July. President Donald Trump’s anger over the backlash closed off most open criticism among Republicans in Congress, with Massie emerging as an exception.