Epstein Files: US House panel releases first batch; 33,000 investigation documents made public

US House of Representatives committee released the first set of documents the investigation into notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday. Over 33,000 pages of records were uploaded to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform website. The documents were handed over by the Justice Department. Committee chairman James Comer said, "We're in the process of uploading those documents for full transparency so everyone in America can see them. It's going as quick as we can get them uploaded. We want those to be public as soon as possible."The committee asked the Justice Department for these records, and the first set was given last month. It is not yet clear what new information is in Tuesday’s release, according to news agency AFP. Many documents related to the Epstein investigation have already been made public. The committee said it expects more records from the Justice Department. These will be redacted to protect victims’ identities and remove any child sexual abuse material. Epstein, a wealthy financier with influential connections, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking underage girls.The investigation by the committee into Epstein follows weeks of backlash against president Trump and his administration, who were criticised by supporters and critics alike for not releasing additional Epstein documents, despite Trump’s pledge for more transparency.The sudden release also comes as Republican leaders try to contain unrest within the party, while Rep RO Khanna and Rep Thomas Massie push for a floor vote on their bipartisan bill demanding the full release of Epstein files.