2026 House Resolution 258

Whereas, For decades, the heinous crimes of Jeffrey Epstein were only whispered about in the darkest corners of society. A convicted sex offender, Epstein operated a vast human trafficking and abuse network, exploiting underage girls and vulnerable individuals. It has been reported that he victimized over one thousand women and girls; and

Whereas, While Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has been held accountable for her role in his criminal ring, there are many others who participated in and helped cover up these crimes who have not yet been held accountable. It is widely known that Epstein had close connections with some of the most high-profile individuals across the globe. These individuals cover some of the world’s largest industries, including technology, finance, real estate, and government. The public, and more importantly the survivors of Epstein, deserve to have these individuals publicly identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; and

Whereas, Holding those who helped cover for Jeffrey Epstein and participated in his heinous crimes accountable should not be a political issue. Bipartisan support for accountability has already come from Washington, D.C., which includes House Bill 4405, named the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bill was sponsored by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. The bill requires the United States Department of Justice to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein. This bill was signed into law on November 19, 2025; and

Whereas, Despite the bipartisan passage of legislation requiring transparency, the Department of Justice has continued to provide more protection for the rich and powerful individuals implicated in the Epstein files than for the survivors that suffered at these individuals’ hands. It has been reported that, in the documents that have been released to the public, the Department of Justice failed to redact the full names of at least 43 victims, including some who were minors at the time of their abuse and others who had not made their identities known to the public. In addition, it is reported that the Department of Justice has published dozens of unredacted photos of young girls and women, some of which show these survivors in the nude; and

Whereas, Not only has the Department of Justice failed to protect the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, but they also continue to protect those who committed sex crimes. A number of names and email addresses of individuals who were communicating with Jeffrey Epstein have been redacted from the files released to the public. Some of these emails specifically talk about underage girls. This is a blatant violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires information on individuals named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities be released and prohibits redactions on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity; and

Whereas, The Department of Justice has proven they are more concerned with protecting the rich and powerful than defending the vulnerable, and that they are unable or unwilling to follow or enforce the law. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has publicly said that the review of the Epstein files is over and that there are no further prosecutions expected. The situation has reached a point where, in order to ensure that justice is served and that perpetrators of heinous sex crimes are held accountable, Congress should utilize its authority to investigate the individuals implicated in the Epstein files. This includes subpoenaing these individuals to testify before Congress; and

Whereas, The United States is founded on the principles of justice, equality, and the rule of law, and no person, regardless of wealth, power, or political influence, is above accountability. The American people deserve full transparency regarding the operations of this network, why our government failed to hold those involved accountable, and how it compromised the institutional integrity of all sectors of society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we call on Congress to investigate all of the individuals implicated in the Epstein files and compel them to testify under oath; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.