Why the House subpoenaed Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and what it means for the search for a client list

Jeffrey Epstein

The US House Oversight Committee has amplified its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's network and the way his sex-trafficking case was investigated. Republican Chair James Comer of Kentucky subpoenaed Epstein's estate on Monday for a wide range of documents and records. Attorneys for the estate are to reply by September 8, 2025, the Washington Post reported.

Documents requested

The subpoena specifically demands a leather-covered "birthday book" made by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein's 50th birthday that contained alleged personal messages from his famous friends. Furthermore, Comer's committee is also seeking any document that may be a list of individuals who may have had sex or trafficked individuals through Epstein. The subpoena also encompasses Epstein's "Black Book" of phone numbers, bank account statements, flight manifests, and nondisclosure agreements, cash transactions made using cash, electronic payments, and cryptocurrency from 1990 until his death in 2019.

The committee is also calling for video and CCTV footage of Epstein's residences in the United States and abroad, property management and service records at his residences in New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida, Paris, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Move to public release of files

The subpoena follows a broader congressional effort to release Epstein-related files. Lawmakers will vote to release documents when Congress returns. Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ro Khanna of California will file a discharge petition on Sept. 2 that would send the House floor to a vote. Democrats also pressed the estate for openness, as Rep. Robert Garcia of California and Khanna have penned letters to estate attorneys last month requesting the "birthday book." Garcia stated that accountability has to come across the board, reiterating that anyone who had caused harm to people through Epstein's network has to be held accountable.

Overseeing previous deals

Along with document requests, the Oversight Committee also demanded testimony on Sept. 19 from Alex Acosta, a former US attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Acosta has faced criticism over the 2007 plea deal that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to lesser charges and serve just a year in jail, much of which was spent on work release. Comer has also demanded the original non-prosecution agreement and correspondence regarding the case.

Political backdrop

The investigation occurs when Republicans are ramping up charges of a federal cover-up. In July last year, the Justice Department indicated that it does not have Epstein "client list" in its files, contradicting assertions by former officials. That allegation sparked outrage among conservative lawmakers and groups alleging that powerful figures are being covered up. Comer's committee has already received 33,000 documents from the Justice Department through an earlier subpoena, though Democrats have criticized the tranche for being devoid of any new information.