Washington, DC, 27 February (H.S.): In a blistering accusation amid escalating scrutiny of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the leading Democrat on the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee charged the White House with orchestrating a cover-up to conceal damaging revelations about President Donald Trump.

Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), speaking outside a deposition session with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, lambasted the Department of Justice for suppressing files that allegedly implicate the president more frequently than any other figure, including former President Bill Clinton.

The confrontation unfolded during closed-door depositions where Hillary Clinton testified on February 26, followed by her husband Bill Clinton the next day, averting prior threats of contempt charges from House Republicans.

Garcia demanded Trump appear under oath, asserting, The person who actually appears more times in the files than the former president... is President Donald Trump, and urged answers for Epstein survivors nationwide.

This marked a pivotal escalation in the bipartisan-yet-partisan probe into Epstein's network, with millions of documents released earlier revealing Trump's over 1,000 mentions, including flight logs and unverified abuse allegations from a Jane Doe complainant.

The Justice Department vehemently denied any impropriety, insisting withheld materials protect victims, ongoing probes, or lack credibility—labeling some as baseless claims submitted right before the 2020 election.

Trump has dismissed the uproar as a Democrat hoax, previously claiming document releases vindicate him while calling for investigations into Clinton's Epstein ties.

Amid partisan barbs, survivors and lawmakers from both sides press for full transparency, with Garcia highlighting discrepancies between public records and restricted files he reviewed.

Epstein's 2019 death halted his trial, but revelations persist: Trump reportedly contacted Florida police in 2006 praising their probe, saying everyone knew of Epstein's behavior.

No charges have stemmed from Trump mentions, which officials deem unsubstantiated, yet the saga fuels demands for accountability across political lines.

As the Oversight Committee weighs subpoenas, this episode underscores enduring divisions over high-profile Epstein associations.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar