NPR’s A Martinez speaks with Rep. Ro Khanna [[roh KAH-nah]], D-Calif., concerning the subsequent steps within the push to launch hundreds of pages of paperwork from Jeffrey Epstein’s property.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
California Congressman Ro Khanna joins us now. He is a Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, which launched hundreds of paperwork from the Epstein property. Congressman, so we simply heard about that vote that Home Speaker Mike Johnson goes to carry subsequent week on that measure forcing the DOJ to launch the Epstein information. Now, that is really very early, sooner than he is required. Why do you suppose he is selecting to speed up that timeline?
RO KHANNA: Properly, that is Thomas Massie and my invoice. We have been preventing for it for 5 months. He realizes now after we bought to 218 signatures yesterday that 40 to 50 Republicans in his caucus will vote for the discharge. This would be the largest vote of MAGA base towards Donald Trump since Donald Trump walked down the escalator. And I believe Johnson is simply bowing to actuality. He is aware of that he’ll need to have this vote, so why not get it over with quickly?
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah, ‘trigger he may’ve waited till December. However that additionally implies that everybody has till December to debate and type of go over it.
KHANNA: Precisely. And day by day that is passing, there are extra Republicans who’re becoming a member of our effort. Look, it is a case of wealthy and highly effective males who abused younger ladies. There are over 1,000 victims. This isn’t actually a partisan difficulty. And the complete Epstein class must go in our politics. We have to restore our politics for working individuals and abnormal individuals. And I do not care whether or not there have been Republicans or Democrats implicated, that class wants to depart. And the left and proper really is coming collectively on this.
MARTÍNEZ: I need to speak about, although, the substance of the newly launched paperwork. So Democrats launched a number of particular emails the place Epstein talked about Trump. And that is out of the 20,000 emails that the committee had in its possession. What do you suppose these explicit emails that your occasion determined to focus on, what do they are saying about Trump’s relationship with Epstein?
KHANNA: Properly, these emails clearly present that he had a major relationship. The emails recommend that he on the very least knew that Epstein was engaged in unlawful conduct. And the query is raised, properly, why did not he say something? And the way a lot did he know? And the query can also be raised, who else knew? I imply, from speaking to the victims’ legal professionals who’ve seen these information, they imagine that there are lots of of males who both knew about Epstein’s abuse and saved quiet or who really participated in a farm system the place Epstein gave them girls to abuse.
MARTÍNEZ: So, Congressman, are you saying that there might be legal guilt by affiliation right here?
KHANNA: No, I’d not go that far. And this effort has by no means been really nearly Donald Trump. What I’ll say is that there have been lots of people who’ve acted with ethical guilt. There are some individuals who might have legal guilt. However the level is these wealthy and highly effective males mustn’t have college buildings named after them. They need to not have scholarships named after them. They shouldn’t be lionized in society. And to this point, they have been shielded. And what Thomas Massie and I try to do is expose all of this, have a lead accountability and make it clear that there was numerous abuse and corruption in our authorities. And the main focus must be on these girls and survivors.
MARTÍNEZ: Do you suppose that we’ll ever type of get previous this? I imply, everybody, I am speaking from Congress to all of us who cowl this, is that this going to be simply one thing we’ll all the time have at the back of our minds?
KHANNA: I do imagine we are able to get previous this. This vote subsequent week goes to be historic. It is the primary time that Congress goes to go on file to say the Epstein information ought to be launched. I hope it will push the Senate to vote, particularly if we get massive numbers. After which I hope that throughout the subsequent six months, the information are launched.
However the cause this has resonated with the American public is there is a feeling that the American dream is useless. There is a feeling that wealthy and highly effective individuals have an excessive amount of cash controlling our authorities, that they get away with issues abnormal People cannot and that they should be held accountable, if not criminally, no less than morally, no less than politically. And that we have to restore a way of standing up for survivors, defending America’s youngsters and having a politics the place billionaires cannot simply purchase off politicians and keep away from the principles.
MARTÍNEZ: Rapidly, though if it could go the Senate, the president would wish to signal it into legislation, which is unlikely. Then what is the level of holding this vote in any respect? Only a few seconds, Congressman.
KHANNA: To begin with, we might get a veto-proof vote within the Home. You possibly can get that within the Senate, and it’ll put such unbelievable stress for the MAGA base to be voting towards the president. That has by no means occurred in his first time period or second time period.
MARTÍNEZ: That is Democratic Consultant Ro Khanna of California. Thanks very a lot.
KHANNA: Thanks.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, we have additionally invited Republican lawmakers to talk with us on this and different information. These invites stay open.
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