WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel defended the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files during a second day of testimony on Capitol Hill, saying the FBI had released all material it was legally allowed to release and that transparency remained a priority.
Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, pressed Patel over the July decision not to publicly release more Epstein-related files, arguing the move undercut accountability. Raskin played a clip from a 2023 interview in which Patel said the FBI possessed Epstein's “black book” with client names. After a review, the Justice Department in July said there was no evidence a client list existed and that no additional files would be released.
In a tense exchange, Rep. Eric Swalwell of California questioned whether Patel told Attorney General Pam Bondi that Trump’s name appeared in Epstein files. When Patel did not immediately answer, Swalwell pressed again, prompting Patel to snap: “Why don't you try to spell it out if you're going to mock me? Use the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F.” Patel later suggested the FBI would look into a claim that a forged letter bearing the president's signature was used in Epstein materials, a matter Democrats on the House Oversight Committee had previously highlighted.
Patel reiterated that he had released everything the FBI was legally able to release and cited court rulings denying unsealing grand jury transcripts as justification for continuing to withhold some materials. Those rulings, however, do not bar the release of other Epstein-related files. The FBI director also indicated he would consider whether to open a broader inquiry into the Epstein estate over allegations that a fake document was circulated with Trump’s signature.
The hearing featured fiery exchanges, including a shouting match with Swalwell in which Patel defended his past writings and warned against casting officials as part of some “Executive Branch Deep State” network. Patel asserted there was more to uncover about Epstein files and the Trump-Russia matter, insisting the FBI would pursue those threads where warranted.
Republicans largely backed the FBI’s handling of the Epstein matter and praised the bureau’s role in other law-enforcement efforts. Some members cited the Memphis operation known as Operation Viper, which Trump announced with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to combat crime in the city. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat, offered measured praise for the FBI's involvement in the Memphis surge, saying local officials noted improvements in policing when the bureau worked with city authorities. The White House has highlighted Memphis crime metrics in recent days, while city police reported declines in major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025 compared with previous years.
Patel also reaffirmed that the FBI remains engaged with periods of the Trump-Russia investigation, including inquiries into leaks to the news media, the discovery of documents in so-called burn bags at FBI headquarters, and the production of an intelligence community assessment published in January 2017 that outlined Russian interference. While no charges have been announced surrounding these matters, Patel said investigators would continue to scrutinize different aspects of the case as part of ongoing oversight.
Asked whether there is more to be done to uncover the depths and origins of the Russia investigation, Patel replied, “There is, and we're doing it.” The remarks came as Democrats pressed for more transparency and Republicans argued for continued scrutiny of the FBI’s actions during the Trump era, underscoring a broader, partisan dispute over accountability and the bureau's role in public life.