Khanna: Survivors' Testimony Forced House to Release Epstein Files, Left Trump 'Humiliated'

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said the House voted nearly unanimously to release previously sealed Jeffrey Epstein files after survivors' powerful testimony shifted public sentiment and compelled lawmakers to act. Speaking with host Lawrence O'Donnell, Khanna credited the victims' accounts with giving the discharge petition the momentum it needed to succeed.

'It was the survivors who told their stories in Congress that galvanized the nation,' Khanna said. 'That testimony pushed this across the finish line and, in my view, left former President Donald Trump humiliated.'

The discharge petition — a rarely used procedural tool — forced a vote that cleared the way for broader public access to documents related to Epstein's activities and alleged network. Khanna stressed that bipartisan concern for transparency, amplified by survivors' testimony, was central to the outcome.

Khanna also called for continued scrutiny and full disclosure so the public can better understand how the abuse persisted and which institutions failed to protect victims. He urged lawmakers to ensure the released materials are accessible and that survivors' voices remain central to any follow-up investigations.