Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement On DOJ Acting Deputy Chief Joseph Schnitt Discussing Potential Republican Epstein Files Cover-Up

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued a statement following the Department of Justice’s Acting Deputy Chief Joseph Schnitt discussing plans to redact every Republican mention in the Epstein files documents, while leaving in Democratic mentions. 

“All Americans should be outraged about the DOJ’s continued cover-up of the Epstein files. Deputy Chief Joseph Schnitt’s comments about potential efforts to redact Republican names from the files are alarming. Defying a congressional subpoena is highly illegal. We are calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to directly address these statements and release the full files immediately.”

In July, Ranking Member Robert Garcia strategically initiated a vote on the motion to subpoena the Epstein files during an Oversight subcommittee hearing, forcing Chairman James Comer to issue 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 L. Lee and was voted on 8-2, with three Republicans joining Oversight Democrats.

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