Democrats press FBI director on Epstein files and other takeaways from his testimony to Congress
September 17, 2025
FBI Director Kash Patel has defended the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as he returned to Capitol Hill for a second day to face intense questioning from Democrats over his promises of transparency surrounding the convicted wealthy financier’s case. The political blowback over the Trump administration’s decision in July not to publicly release more investigative files from Epstein’s case was at the center of Patel’s five-hour appearance Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee hearing. It followed an at-times raucous hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.