Rep. Summer Lee Statement on DOJ Failure to Comply with Epstein Files Subpoena
Subpoena Issued to Department of Justice Had Aug. 19 Deadline
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 19, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s failure to comply with a subpoena ordering it to release the full, unredacted Epstein files by today. Instead, the DOJ signaled it would begin production of a limited batch of Epstein files on Friday, August 22.
“Trump’s Department of Justice continues to obstruct the truth against the will of the American people. Releasing the Epstein files in limited batches past the subpoena deadline is further proof this administration is protecting the wealthy and the well-connected. This cover-up is obvious.
“The DOJ must comply with our subpoena, by law, and release the full, unredacted files. We will continue pushing for the truth on behalf of the American people. The victims deserve justice and our democracy deserves respect.”
The motion to subpoena the Epstein files was initially introduced by Rep. Summer Lee during a House Oversight subcommittee hearing in July. It passed with an 8-2 vote, with three Republicans joining Oversight Democrats.
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.