"One of the greatest coverups in American history."

Rep. Jamie Raskin on Epstein and Trump administration corruption

Few Democratic leaders in Washington have shown as much resolve in confronting the Trump administration as Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Last week, I spoke with Raskin, the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, about how he and his colleagues are tackling the administration’s sweeping corruption—from its handling of the Epstein files to the push for the so-called SAVE Act.

In our conversation, Raskin called Donald Trump’s deception around the Epstein files “one of the greatest coverups in American history, if not the biggest.” He described how Attorney General Pam Bondi initially ducked a subpoenaed deposition, choosing instead to deliver a short “briefing” filled with empty talking points. When Democrats finally secured a closed-door session, Republicans turned it into a three-minute stunt with no prepared materials, prompting Raskin and his colleagues to walk out.

With Republicans shielding Bondi and the administration, the strategy now seems to be delay until after the midterms. Bondi’s refusal to testify mirrors that of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was ousted after Raskin referred her to the Justice Department for alleged perjury tied to a $200 million taxpayer-funded ad contract.

Raskin’s relentless focus extends beyond corruption to democracy itself. The GOP’s SAVE Act—which they claim protects against voter fraud—would in reality impose new barriers by requiring documents like birth certificates or passports to vote. “When they talk about election fraud,” Raskin told me, “they mean to perpetrate it on the public.”

If (when) Democrats retake the House in the midterms, Raskin’s committee will take the lead on renewed investigations into Trump and his allies’ corruption, including potentially filing articles of impeachment. The panel is already compiling a record of violations for potential follow-up action.

Raskin’s approach offers a model for Democrats to truly stand up to the authoritarian moves defining this administration. Watch our full conversation on YouTube here, or listen to the audio version on Spotify or Apple.