Texas Democrat seeks to force Epstein vote ahead of expected passage of new map

Desmond Milligan · August 20

Texas Democrats are looking to put Republicans on defense ahead of the expected passage of a GOP-friendly map by putting an amendment to a vote concerning the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu (D) is introducing an amendment that would allow a new House map to take effect only after Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly releases files related to the disgraced financier.

Wu’s amendment says the maps won’t be adopted until Bondi “makes publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices, that relate to Jeffrey Epstein.”

The Texas House is convening at 11 am EDT, where the lower chamber is expected to pass a new House map that would allow Republicans to add five seats ahead of 2026.

The Epstein files have been a thorn in President Trump’s side, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for the release of more documents around Epstein, who pleaded guilty to several state charges in Florida pertaining to solicitation of prostitution.

He also faced sex trafficking and conspiracy charges before he died in jail in 2019. Officials have determined Epstein died by suicide, though there’s been skepticism among the public that his death was the result of foul play.

Trump said on the campaign trail he would declassify documents around Epstein — a figure the president has sought to distance himself from — but even some of Trump’s most loyal supporters have been up in arms over the administration’s handling of the Epstein case.

The Wall Street Journal reported Bondi told Trump his name appeared in the Epstein documents, among other notable names, though that does not mean the president is guilty of any wrongdoing. But that hasn’t stopped Democrats from putting pressure on Republicans over the issue.

“Trump is in those files, and that’s why he’s fighting to keep them hidden,” Wu alleged in a statement.

“At the same time he’s demanding Abbott ram through racist maps, he’s making sure Congressional Republicans block the release of files that could expose his decades-long relationship with a child sex trafficker,” he added. “This amendment forces Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and their obligation to expose sexual predators.”

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