During Mr. Trump's first term, his labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, resigned following criticism of his handling of Epstein's 2008 plea deal when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida. Epstein served 13 months in a jail work-release program after he was originally accused of sexually abusing dozens of girls and young women.

Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport recessed the House a day early as the debate over the sex offender Jeffrey Epsein's case escalated.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said the lack of transparency is reinforcing public perceptions that the rich and powerful live beyond the reach of the judicial system.

Johnson said he wouldn’t allow a vote on a measure calling on the White House to release all the files until after Labor Day at the earliest to give President Trump “space” to release some

“He told me he has like 15 or 16 hours of videotape of Jeff,” said Epstein’s brother Mark in an interview with NBC earlier this month, adding he had met with Bannon after Epstein’s death and asked to see the tapes. “He was trying to help Jeff rehabilitate his reputation.”

Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, said Maxwell is undecided on whether to testify before Congress regarding her connection to Jeffrey Epstein and his circle.

He “never had the privilege” of going to Epstein’s notorious island, Trump said Monday, while also alleging Epstein stole his workers.