Senator Pushes to Preserve Epstein Files Despite DOJ Denial and Public Outrage
Amid mounting skepticism and public backlash over the Department of Justice’s conclusion that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and left behind no client list, a surprising move emerged from Capitol Hill—this time from the other side of the aisle.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, quietly introduced a pivotal amendment in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. His proposal? To “retain, preserve, and compile” every document tied to Epstein and his sprawling criminal enterprise. The amendment passed unanimously, as reported by Scripps News.
This bipartisan action comes just days after Attorney General Pam Bondi announced there was no list of clients tied to Epstein and no indication of foul play—an assertion that prompted immediate and widespread doubt from conservatives, independents, and even some Democrats. Bondi’s prior suggestion that investigators had been pursuing such a list has now been walked back, adding more fuel to suspicions of a coordinated cover-up.
Adding to the chaos, billionaire Elon Musk briefly inflamed tensions with a now-deleted post implying President Donald J. Trump was on Epstein’s alleged list—an accusation that has since been debunked and discredited. Still, the contradictions and inconsistencies have left Americans demanding answers.
Sen. Van Hollen framed his amendment as a straightforward push for accountability and truth:
“The goal is transparency,” he told Scripps News. “I think all of us, and I think the public, have an interest in knowing exactly how this case has been handled over the years. So that amendment does two things. It requires that all the documents be preserved. And second, it requires that they present a detailed report.”
When asked directly if he suspected a cover-up, Van Hollen avoided speculation:
“I just want to get the facts. My view is that we should just have all the facts laid out so the public can have confidence.”
While the amendment passed committee without opposition, its survival in the final funding bill remains uncertain. It will ultimately reach the desk of President Donald Trump, who will decide whether to enshrine it into law.
Amid renewed public interest, journalist Michael Wolff revealed a chilling final message he claims to have received from Epstein—delivered through a lawyer the night before his death.
“His message to me hours before this happened was — and it was just in response to me asking how he was — and he said, ‘Still hanging around,’” Wolff told The Daily Beast Podcast, as reported by the New York Post.
The irony of that phrase, delivered mere hours before Epstein was found hanging in his Manhattan jail cell, has only intensified speculation.
Despite years of public doubt and conspiracy theories, the DOJ insists the case is closed. A recently obtained memo, according to Axios, states:
- There is “no incriminating ‘client list.’”
- No credible evidence of blackmail involving “prominent individuals.”
- Jail surveillance video supports the official conclusion of suicide.
Epstein, 66, died in custody on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors. Though he reportedly asked Wolff to write his biography in 2014—a request that was declined—the two remained in contact. Wolff’s view on Epstein’s death?
“He could not, as described, have killed himself,” he said. “As the circumstances presented, he could not have been murdered.”
In short, we still don’t have answers—and the American people know it.