House Republicans Report Faults Federal Handling of Epstein and Maxwell Investigations

House Republicans on the Oversight Committee released a report on November 10, 2026, criticizing the federal government's handling of the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The committee's majority staff report, titled A Review of the Federal Government's Mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell Criminal Investigations, followed a 15-month inquiry. That work included 19 transcribed interviews, seven depositions, the release of documents from the Justice Department and the Epstein estate, and an extensive review of financial records.

The report points to the years before Epstein's federal case was resolved. It cites a 2008 non-prosecution agreement and plea deal, arrangements in which prosecutors agree not to pursue charges, as failures by investigators and prosecutors, and says the federal case at the time was shelved. It also finds that crimes Epstein committed after 2005 could have been prevented if not for failures by federal investigators and prosecutors in South Florida and Washington, D.C.

The report describes how Epstein and Maxwell's network facilitated the recruitment, control and abuse of young women. It states that Epstein cultivated relationships with powerful individuals and used those connections to establish financial and social legitimacy.

On the Justice Department's handling of records, the report says questions remain about whether the department has released all relevant documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It states that the department failed to communicate adequately about document releases and failed to sufficiently protect survivors after the law took effect. It also says deficient redactions in those releases exposed sensitive information about survivors.

Committee Chair James Comer said the federal government has failed survivors of Epstein and Maxwell's crimes for decades. He urged the department to interview key witnesses, investigate Epstein associates accused of criminal activity, and ensure survivors have access to their records. The report recommends that survivors be given unredacted access to their own records.

Comer also urged the department to question and investigate Lesley Groff, Epstein's longtime assistant, who told lawmakers she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes while working for him. He urged an investigation of sexual assault allegations involving two men made by former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen. Comer called on Congress to pass his Survivors Voice Protection Act, which would ensure witnesses and survivors are not deterred from speaking freely by nondisclosure agreements.

A Justice Department spokesperson said the chairman's recommendations have already been addressed. The department said Attorney General has repeatedly said the Epstein case is not closed and that there is no statute of limitations on human trafficking.

Robert Garcia, the committee's top Democrat, called the Republicans' report misleading and partisan. He said it was based on an incomplete investigation and no public hearings on Epstein. Garcia also accused the Justice Department of continuing to illegally withhold more than 2.5 million pages of documents.