A push to release records tied to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, has divided some Republicans in Arizona’s congressional delegation.
Rep. Andy Biggs was one of two Republicans on the House Oversight Committee to vote Wednesday against a motion to subpoena the U.S. Justice Department release files related to the federal case against Epstein, including interview memos.
Rep. Paul Gosar, Biggs’ fellow congressman on the committee, skipped the vote. The motion passed 8-2, and Biggs provided no explanation for his vote against it.
That vote came just a day after Rep. Eli Crane — like Biggs, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus — called for greater transparency surrounding the government’s investigation of Epstein, and cast doubt on federal reports that Epstein died by suicide.
"I believe transparency should be the hallmark of every administration whether they’re Democrat or Republican," Crane said.
Arizona’s three other Republicans in Congress — Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Abe Hamadeh and David Schweikert — have remained mum on the Epstein case.
The about-face and, in some cases, silence regarding Epstein is a departure for Republicans who’ve traditionally been vocal in calling for details of the government’s case to be released.
Biggs called for the release of “Epstein’s client list” as recently as December. Gosar has multiple times supported claims that Epstein did not commit suicide, while also questioning the lack of information released on Epstein’s activities. And in 2019, Hamadeh likened the investigation of Epstein to “Pandora’s box.”
“It may be convenient for some to have him dead — but the Pandora’s box is open ... and it won’t be shut,” Hamadeh posted on X.
The issue has rankled House Republican leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson, who’s attempted to rein in efforts by members of his own caucus to release the so-called Epstein files, sent the entire chamber home early for its August recess to avoid dragging out a fight over motions for greater transparency.
Democrats like Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego have seized on an issue that’s driven a wedge between Republicans in Congress, as well as President Donald Trump and some who’ve traditionally been the president’s most loyal MAGA supporters.
“Trump is in the Epstein files, and he knows it,” Gallego said during a speech Thursday from the U.S. Senate floor. “The truth is coming out and the cover-up is crumbling.”
Gallego attempted to make a motion on a resolution asking the U.S. Justice Department to turn over files related to its investigation of Epstein but was stymied by Republicans.
“The American people are not stupid. They know something is off, they smell it,” Gallego said. “If Donald Trump really wants these files released they'd be out already. Instead he’s orchestrating a coverup, and he’s not acting alone.”
Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari also called for the release of the Epstein files, as did Congressman Greg Stanton, who also criticized the speaker for shutting down the House to avoid debate on the issue.
