Congressman Nick LaLota's Statement on the Release of the Epstein Files

Releasing the Epstein files shouldn’t be a partisan fight — it’s a matter of basic decency. That’s why I voted YES this week to make them public, and I’m glad the Senate joined us. The American people deserve the truth about Jeffrey Epstein’s network, every victim deserves answers, and no one — regardless of wealth or political connections — deserves protection from the law.

At the same time, while I support transparency, the legislation Congress passed is not perfect. As written, it lacks adequate protections for victims, risks outing innocent individuals, and fails to safeguard against releasing Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM). It also provides no protections for whistleblowers or undercover law enforcement and could expose confidential investigative methods and sources. These concerns are real, and I hope the Department of Justice takes every necessary step to address them responsibly as the files are released.

In recent weeks, President Trump asked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to reopen and lead a renewed federal investigation into Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their broader network. As the new U.S. Attorney General, Bondi has been clear: the public deserves transparency, and accountability — wherever the facts lead — is non-negotiable.

That stands in stark contrast to the four years under President Biden. From 2021 through 2024, the Department of Justice released no Epstein files, brought no new indictments, and showed no urgency in pursuing those who enabled Epstein’s trafficking operation. Many of the same political and media figures speaking out today were silent when their party controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Their new concern for protecting Epstein’s victims also contrasts sharply with their border policies, which created another humanitarian crisis: the tens of thousands of migrant children could not be located after being released into the country under Biden’s open-border approach, according to a March 2025 report from the Department of Homeland Security. Federal whistleblowers have confirmed that many ended up in exploitative labor conditions — and in some cases, sex trafficking. You cannot claim to stand with victims of exploitation while ignoring children harmed by your own policies.

As the father of three daughters, I will never look the other way when minors are at risk. Releasing the Epstein files is a critical step toward truth, but it must be accompanied by real action — both to protect victims of these past crimes and to ensure every perpetrator is held accountable now and in the future.