WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel faced intense questioning on Capitol Hill Wednesday over his agency’s handling of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, with both Democrats and a Republican lawmaker accusing the FBI of shielding information that could implicate others in the late financier’s crimes.
Appearing before the House Judiciary Committee for a second day, Patel insisted that the bureau is “releasing as much as legally allowed” and cited court orders and privacy laws as key barriers preventing the release of additional evidence.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) pressed Patel on whether the FBI had launched investigations into individuals named by Epstein’s alleged victims.
“We know these people exist in the FBI files, files that you control,” Massie said.
Patel replied that the FBI would act on “credible information” but said he had not received any such referrals.
The Justice Department sparked outrage in July when it declined to release further documents from the Epstein probe, despite earlier raising expectations for full disclosure. The decision has fueled anger among Trump’s political base, many of whom expected the administration to expose other high-profile figures allegedly connected to Epstein’s network.
Epstein’s death in 2019 — ruled a suicide while he awaited trial for sex trafficking — continues to fuel conspiracy theories. The controversy has created a rare split between President Trump and some of his staunchest supporters, with Trump dismissing the renewed focus on Epstein as a “hoax” pushed by Democrats.
Patel, once a frequent critic of the FBI’s handling of Epstein before being tapped by Trump to lead the agency, faced sharp criticism from Democrats who accused him of abandoning his calls for transparency.
“How did you go from being a crusader for accountability and transparency to being part of the conspiracy and cover-up?” asked Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the committee’s top Democrat.
Patel reiterated that much of the material remains sealed under grand jury rules and court orders, and noted that judges have already rejected three Justice Department requests to unseal additional evidence. Prosecutors acknowledged most of the grand jury material contains little that isn’t already public.
He also said the FBI does not possess videos allegedly showing Epstein trafficking women or girls to others, contrary to some claims circulating online.
The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed documents related to Epstein, and the Justice Department has begun producing some records. Whether those releases will satisfy lawmakers and the public remains to be seen.