The U.S. House Oversight Committee's inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein is approaching its one-year mark, yet lawmakers and survivors say the truth remains elusive. The witness list has included some of the highest-profile figures ever to appear before the panel, including billionaire moguls, members of Epstein's inner circle, and a former U.S. president. All have sought to distance themselves from the deceased sex offender's crimes, but none have provided information to help bring charges against any wrongdoers.
High-Profile Witnesses, Few Breakthroughs
Among the dozen-plus witnesses, billionaire investor Leon Black, co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, testified in a closed-door session. He paid Epstein more than US$150 million from 2012 to 2017, but claimed, "I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde." Republican committee chairman Rep. James Comer told reporters Black cut the meeting short after being asked about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) he had signed with women. Black was issued two subpoenas to appear at another hearing under oath on July 16 and to divulge information about any NDAs.
Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant for over a decade, testified in March that he received money from Black, along with billionaire retailer Les Wexner, hedge fund magnate Glenn Dubin, former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky, and members of the prominent Rothschild family, Comer said. Wexner, alleged to be behind much of Epstein's wealth, told committee members in February that Epstein was a "conman" who duped him out of millions of dollars.
Survivors Criticize Voluntary Testimony
A group of Epstein abuse survivors has criticized the committee interviews for being largely voluntary and not under oath. They say the truth is still hiding. Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008 and spent 13 months in jail. He died in August 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.
In the U.K., ties to Epstein caused a leadership crisis, led to former Prince Andrew losing his honours and princely title, and triggered police investigations. Senior officials in Norway, Sweden, France, and Slovakia have all faced a reckoning for their associations with the disgraced financier. In the U.S., prominent figures have been forced to resign while some have been grilled by lawmakers.
Committee Continues Pursuit
Rep. Comer said the committee wants to know: "Was Jeffrey Epstein involved in the NDAs? Was he involved in writing? Was he involved in awarding funds to the women for the NDAs? What was the reason for the NDAs?" The inquiry, now one year in, has yet to yield the answers survivors and lawmakers seek.
