The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), would have required Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish all Epstein-related files online within 30 days. Tied to a procedural measure on the GENIUS Act and a defense funding bill, the proposal was narrowly defeated in a 6-5 Rules Committee vote — though Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) broke ranks to support it.

"The question with Epstein is: Whose side are you on?" Khanna told Axios. “Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, or on the side of the people?” He pledged to reintroduce the measure “again and again and again.”

Republicans, led by committee chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), dismissed the amendment as irrelevant to the underlying legislation. “I think most of us believe what’s appropriate will be released when it is time,” Foxx said.

Rare GOP Defection, Democrats Escalate Push

Norman, the lone Republican defector, acknowledged public interest in the case. “I think there are files,” he told Axios. “All of a sudden not to have files is a little strange.” Meanwhile, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), another conservative known to buck party lines, abstained from voting.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the Rules Committee’s top Democrat, lambasted Republicans for backtracking on promises to release the Epstein files. “This is about trust,” he said. “They said, ‘Vote for us and we will release these files.’ Well, here we are.”

Democrats also attempted to advance a separate five-page resolution by Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) demanding both the DOJ files and an FBI report on possible evidence suppression. That measure failed in an 8-4 vote, with Norman siding with Republicans. “We’re talking about crypto, Jim. We’re talking about regulations,” he said.

Despite repeated defeats, Democratic leaders view the Epstein issue as a potent political tool — particularly as President Trump navigates tension within his MAGA base over the DOJ’s handling of the case.