Tuesday marked the first day back for Congress following the Labor Day holiday, which traditionally signals the end of summer. Lawmakers returned to address unfinished business, with the release of Jeffrey Epstein files at the forefront of discussions. The House of Representatives had previously adjourned a week early for summer recess, a decision made by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson to avoid a potentially contentious vote on a resolution from Democrats. This resolution called for the Department of Justice to release all available information regarding the Epstein case.

The push for transparency regarding Epstein's connections has garnered bipartisan support, including from members of Donald Trump's MAGA wing of the Republican Party. This is notable as it reflects a rare instance of backlash from Trump's base, which has been vocal in demanding answers.

Trump has long suggested the existence of a cover-up related to Epstein's death in prison and hinted at a list of high-profile clients involved in a sex trafficking ring. However, during his presidency, he allowed the Justice Department to close the investigation before any conclusive evidence could be revealed. Trump's past friendship with Epstein has also been a focal point in the ongoing discourse.

On the first day back, the House Oversight Committee, known for investigating significant cases such as Enron and Iran-Contra, released over 33,000 pages of documents from the Epstein files. However, this release did not meet the expectations of many. The documents represent only about 1 percent of the total files subpoenaed from the Justice Department, and the content appears to offer little new information.

Oversight Committee Chair James Comer acknowledged the lack of new findings, stating, "As far as I can see, there's nothing new in the documents." The released materials include court documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, as well as records from the investigation into Epstein's death and some flight logs. However, there was no definitive evidence to support claims of foul play in Epstein's death or a list of his alleged clients.

As Congress reconvenes on Wednesday, the debate over the Epstein files is expected to dominate discussions. Republican Thomas Massie from Kentucky plans to push for a vote to compel the Trump administration to release all related materials, with support from Democrats. To bring this vote to the floor, he will need 218 signatures. Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson and other Republicans may attempt to block this effort, although it may only delay the inevitable push for transparency.