The House Oversight Committee has approved a motion, led by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell—convicted sex trafficker and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein—to testify before the committee about Epstein’s criminal network.
The motion passed unanimously in the committee’s Government Operations Subcommittee and now heads to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) for formal issuance of the subpoena. If approved, subpoenas will be coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Prisons to schedule Maxwell’s testimony at a secure location where she is currently incarcerated.
Burchett, who introduced the motion without prior consultation with former President Trump, described Maxwell as “the last one standing” who can shed light on how Epstein operated and maintained protection. “We’ve just got to get to the bottom of this thing,” he said. “It’s been four years and we don’t need to tolerate this stuff anymore.”
While the GOP-controlled panel moves ahead aggressively, House Speaker Mike Johnson triggered an early August recess for the House to sidestep votes on broader Epstein-related actions. Johnson emphasized the importance of protecting evidence of victims while pursuing transparency amid internal party tensions.
The Justice Department has signaled cooperation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced plans to meet with Maxwell “in the coming days” and reiterated that the DOJ and FBI remain open to any credible information Maxwell may offer—even though a recent DOJ/FBI memo concluded Epstein died by suicide and that no “client list” was found.
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed the discussions with DOJ and assured that Maxwell is prepared to testify “truthfully”.
Advocates for releasing Epstein-related documents, including former DOJ officials and congressional leadership, continue pushing for grand jury records. Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have filed a bipartisan discharge petition to force a House vote on unsealing files once lawmakers return in September.
The subpoena strategy represents the latest chapter in the ongoing controversy over transparency and accountability after Epstein’s death and Maxwell’s conviction. If approved and followed through, Maxwell’s testimony could provide rare firsthand insight into Epstein’s abuses and how his extensive network functioned.
