The majority of Democrats are happy egging on the Republican fight over releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein. But some members worry they're taking their eye off the ball.

Ghislaine Maxwell appealed to Congress on Tuesday to push for a pardon so she can "testify openly and honestly" about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter from her attorney. The overt pitch for clemency came in a letter to the House Oversight Committee which had subpoenaed Maxwell for testimony and records.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected financier, sexually abuse underage girls.

President Trump is urging his to move past the Jeffrey Epstein case, but pressure is mounting for his administration to release more.

During Mr. Trump's first term, his labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, resigned following criticism of his handling of Epstein's 2008 plea deal when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida. Epstein served 13 months in a jail work-release program after he was originally accused of sexually abusing dozens of girls and young women.

Johnson said he wouldn’t allow a vote on a measure calling on the White House to release all the files until after Labor Day at the earliest to give President Trump “space” to release some

The case of Jeffrey Epstein, sex offender and former friend of the president, has blown up into a major headache for the White House.

But after a handful of Republicans temporarily stalled the $9 billion rescissions package last week over the Epstein issue, Speaker Mike Johnson does not appear likely to entertain further consideration of the matter before setting the House free on a five-week recess that stretches past Labor Day.