Former Attorney General Bill Barr became the first witness Monday in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into the federal government’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s case, testifying behind closed doors following a subpoena.
Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Barr told investigators he “never saw anything that would implicate President Trump” in Epstein’s crimes. Barr also said that if such material existed, “the Biden administration would probably have leaked it out.” Comer added that Barr denied knowing about a “client list” or discussing one with Trump, saying he would be “shocked” if any negative information about Trump wasn’t already leaked before the election.
Barr led the Justice Department from 2019 to 2020 during Trump’s first administration and oversaw the DOJ when Epstein died in jail in August 2019.
Comer announced that the DOJ will begin turning over documents related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on Friday, after Oversight initially demanded them by Tuesday, Aug. 19. The request covers communications and files on Epstein and Maxwell, human trafficking, exploitation of minors, sexual abuse, Epstein’s 2007 non-prosecution deal in Florida, and his death.
The committee asked that materials be provided with minimal redactions, limited to victims’ personal information, child sex abuse material, or other legally required exclusions.
