H.R. 7814: Ensuring Prosecutorial Scrutiny, Transparency, and Equal Impartiality Nationwide Act

This bill, known as the **Ensuring Prosecutorial Scrutiny, Transparency, and Equal Impartiality Nationwide Act** (or the **EPSTEIN Act**), proposes the establishment of an independent commission called the **Epstein Transparency and Accountability Commission**. This commission will operate under the legislative branch of the government with a primary focus on overseeing and investigating the operations of the Department of Justice concerning the handling of materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and similar cases.

Establishment of the Commission

The bill formally creates the Epstein Transparency and Accountability Commission. Its main responsibilities will include examining all relevant materials that are in the possession of the Department of Justice, particularly those that are required to be preserved or disclosed under existing law.

Commission Composition

The Commission will consist of **eight members** who are appointed as follows:

• 2 members by the **Majority Leader of the Senate**.
• 2 members by the **Speaker of the House of Representatives**.
• 2 members by the **Minority Leader of the Senate**.
• 2 members by the **Minority Leader of the House of Representatives**.

Members should be well-respected U.S. citizens with experience in fields related to human trafficking and exploitation. Notably, current members of Congress or Department of Justice officials are not eligible to be Commission members. The Commission will select a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson from among its members, and they cannot be from the same political party.

Functions of the Commission

The Commission will have several key functions, including:

• Conducting independent investigations into any criminal violations associated with Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.
• Reviewing and analyzing materials commonly referred to as the "Epstein files".
• Referring identified violations to appropriate legal experts for further action.
• Promoting transparency in the enforcement of federal human trafficking laws.
• Issuing quarterly reports to Congress summarizing their findings and any compliance concerns.

Referral and Information Authority

The Commission will have the authority to refer matters for potential prosecution and will be able to request information from federal agencies. They can subpoena witnesses and information to carry out their investigations effectively. If there is noncompliance with subpoenas, they can escalate the issue to the appropriate judicial authority.

Public Reporting

Within **18 months** of the Commission’s establishment, it must submit a report to Congress summarizing their findings. This report will largely be unclassified and made publicly available, with certain exceptions to protect victim information and sensitive materials. The report will include:

• Updates on ongoing trafficking cases.
• Details on federal efforts to estimate human trafficking prevalence.
• An analysis of the effectiveness of policies for victim support.
• Demographic analysis of trafficking victims.
• Recommendations for addressing the unique needs of different victim groups.

Funding

The bill authorizes necessary appropriations to ensure the Commission has the financial resources to carry out its duties.

Relevant Companies

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