Rep. Robert Garcia asks House Oversight chair James Comer to subpoena White House officials over reported Jeffrey Epstein records handling

A top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), urged committee chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) to take additional action after a report described the White House’s purported efforts to contain files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The request was made in a letter sent Friday, according to reporting by The Hill.

Garcia’s letter asks Comer to “take immediate steps” that include calling multiple Trump administration officials for questioning, the report said. The specific individuals Garcia named include “Vance,” along with other White House officials, as Garcia sought testimony aimed at clarifying the handling of Epstein-related information.

The request comes as Oversight Republicans and Democrats continue to pursue questions about how federal and executive-branch actors handled Epstein-related records and related matters. Oversight Committee activity typically centers on issuing subpoenas, taking sworn testimony, and assembling document production lists to establish timelines and identify responsible officials.

The Hill reported that Garcia’s letter also characterizes the allegations as requiring prompt committee attention, arguing that officials should appear before the committee to explain what the White House knew, what actions were taken, and what steps, if any, were taken to limit the spread of Epstein-related materials.

The Oversight Committee, which has authority to investigate “any matter” within its jurisdiction, generally relies on its chair’s scheduling and document strategy. Whether Comer moves toward subpoenas or scheduled depositions for the individuals Garcia named would determine what happens next in the committee’s inquiry.

For Garcia, the immediate practical focus is the committee’s ability to obtain sworn testimony and records that could bear on executive-branch decision-making and internal communications. For oversight Republicans, the committee’s next steps would likewise affect the scope of document requests and the cost and timeline associated with producing records from executive departments and the White House.

Garcia’s letter is not the only vehicle available to the committee, but it indicates a push for faster, more direct testimony rather than waiting for informal responses. If Comer proceeds, the committee would need to set deadlines for compliance and determine which documents and officials fall within its investigative scope.

No official response from Comer or the administration officials named for testimony was included in the reporting summarized by The Hill, and the underlying reporting about “containment” of Epstein files remains an allegation pending any committee review, testimony, or document production.