A a surge of political outrage erupted Tuesday after newly surfaced 2013 correspondence placed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) name inside material linked to Jeffrey Epstein. The revelation landed at the exact moment Congress approved a sweeping transparency bill that forces the Justice Department to release every unclassified Epstein file in its possession.
The Senate voted unanimously to advance the House-backed Epstein Files Transparency Act, with Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) saying the bill will be formally transmitted to the White House on Wednesday. Once received, no further Senate action is required. President Donald Trump has already announced he will sign the legislation, marking a major shift in his public posture and clearing the way for the long-sought public release of documents within 30 days.
But the momentum toward full disclosure collided directly with Jeffries after House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer flagged a 2013 email sent to Epstein by political consulting firm Dynamic SRG. The message promoted a fundraising dinner and invited recipients to get to “know Hakeem better.” It was not authored by Jeffries, nor does the document indicate he knew the solicitation was being sent or to whom. Still, the appearance of Jeffries’ name in material connected to Epstein has generated intense political scrutiny.
When pressed on the matter, Jeffries told CNN that he had no memory of the outreach. He said, “I’ve never had a conversation with him, never met him, know nothing about him other than the extreme things that he’s been convicted of doing. And that’s why, you know, I’m just strongly supportive of the effort, backing the survivors to make sure that everything can come out, whatever is in those Department of Justice files.”
The email itself was promotional in tone, calling Jeffries “one of the rising stars in the New York Congressional delegation” and adding that he was “sometimes referred to as ‘Brooklyn’s Barack.’” It encouraged participation in a DCCC and DSCC fundraising dinner with President Obama and offered recipients an opportunity to “get to know Hakeem better.”
Comer spotlighted the document in a floor speech and online, arguing that it showed Democratic fundraising networks attempting to bring Epstein into their political orbit despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction five years earlier.
The resurfaced email follows last week’s mass release of more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related material produced by lawmakers, some of which referenced President Trump. One document described Trump as the “dog that hasn’t barked.” Trump, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, told House Republicans they have “nothing to hide” and publicly backed the legislation demanding the files be released.
CNN also questioned Jeffries about separate documents showing text exchanges between Epstein and U.S. House Delegate Stacey Plaskett. House Republicans attempted to remove Plaskett from the Intelligence Committee but failed in a Tuesday vote. The messages do not indicate wrongdoing, and Plaskett told the House she engaged in no improper behavior.
The Justice Department confirmed Friday that it is reviewing Epstein’s alleged connections to high-profile Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, who has long insisted he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.
With both chambers voting overwhelmingly for disclosure, the pressure is now on the DOJ to deliver. Once President Trump signs the bill, the countdown begins.
