Illinois lawmakers propose bipartisan commission to investigate crimes in Epstein files
Illinois lawmakers and advocates Monday announced their intentions to form a bipartisan commission to investigate crimes in the Epstein files that happened in the state.
The Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission, introduced in the legislature as HB 5723, would investigate crimes that happened in Illinois and that are linked to Jeffrey Epstein's network. The commission would also investigate targeted Illinois victims.
"Survivors connected to Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking network have been telling us the same thing, that the abuse didn't happen in a vacuum," said bill sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview. "There were systems behind it, there was power behind it, and in too many cases, there were institutions that looked the other way, institutions that were supposed to protect these young girls but didn't."
The measure has a long way to go to become law. Rashid was listed as the bill's lone sponsor as of Monday afternoon, the day it was filed, though he was accompanied by two other supportive Democrat legislators.
The independent body would have subpoena power as part of their investigatory toolkit.
The bill would give the commission investigatory authority to request records from state and local agencies, issue subpoenas for documents and testimony, and provide confidentiality protections to victims and other whistleblowers. Victims would not be compelled to testify against their wishes, according to Rashid.
Supporters say the commission would ensure accountability is not blocked at the local or federal level.
Maggie Dougherty with Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.