Ranking Members Summer Lee and Robert Garcia Statement After Forcing House GOP to Subpoena Epstein Files

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 5, 2025 — Today, Rep. Summer L. Lee (PA-12)​​, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, and Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after Chairman James Comer issued a subpoena to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files relating to child sex trafficker and Trump’s longtime friend Jeffrey Epstein. The motion was introduced by Rep. Summer Lee during a subcommittee hearing in July. It passed with an 8-2 vote, with three Republicans joining Oversight Democrats. 

“Today was an important step forward in our fight for transparency regarding the Epstein files and our dedication to seeking justice for the victims. Now, we must continue putting pressure on the Department of Justice until we actually receive every document,” said Ranking Member Summer Lee and Ranking Member Robert Garcia. “While this subpoena is a critical milestone in our investigation and a win for the American people, we won’t stop demanding every piece of information our government has in a timely manner. We know that Ghislaine Maxwell can’t be taken at her word, so we need these files now in order to corroborate any claims she makes. It’s important to show folks that corruption and violations of our laws don’t go unchecked, regardless of your political party or how much wealth you have. This fight is not over.”  

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.