Indiana Republican representative files resolution for U.S. DOJ to release Epstein files

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana member of the U.S. House of Representatives is asking for the public to have access to files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind. District 9 has filed a resolution, requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice publicly release “certain documents, records and communications related to the investigation” into Epstein within 30 days.

This comes after President Donald Trump said that Republicans were “aiding Democrats” by focusing on the release of documents related to Epstein, calling them “stupid” and “foolish.” According to previous reports, Epstein, a financier, was arrested on sex trafficking charges and committed suicide in 2019.

In the resolution, filed on Thursday, Houchin is requesting that the credible documents related to the investigation into Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell be “publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format.”

The resolution states that the records should not be “withheld, delayed or redacted” for “embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure or foreign dignitary.”

The portions of the documents that can be redacted under Houchin’s resolution include information that identifies victims of sexual abuse or human trafficking as well as information that would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.

In a news release from Houchin’s office, Houchin said that the resolution “provides a clear path forward” to work with the Trump administration to release the files within, deliver transparency and protect the victims.

“I have always supported full transparency when it comes to the Epstein files, and I’m glad to back President Trump in that effort,” Houchin said in the release. “Earlier this week, I refused to hand this process over to Democrats trying to exploit it for political gain. Their amendment in the Rules Committee was nothing more than a stunt—reckless and completely lacking the victim protections this issue demands.

“I refuse to let Democrats and their media allies play games that would further harm innocent victims,” Houchin continued. “Anyone involved in these horrific crimes must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

With this resolution, Houchin is joining other Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, in calling for the release of the files. However, in social media posts, Trump said that looking into the files was a “scam” and “bulls—.”

“They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for eight long years,” Trump said about Republicans calling for the release of the files.

According to the U.S. Congress’s website, the resolution was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on Thursday.