Congressional Committee Plans New Human-Trafficking Law to Close Epstein-Era Loopholes

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer revealed plans for a comprehensive anti-human-trafficking bill aimed at eliminating loopholes that allowed Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes to persist. The draft would broaden the legal definition of trafficking, explicitly address grooming, and mandate reporting of sexual misconduct even when a nondisclosure agreement is in place. Comer’s comments come after the committee’s extensive inquiry, which gathered roughly 3 million documents and featured closed-door testimonies from high-profile individuals including Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

He noted that some victims did not meet the current legal definition of trafficking, prompting the need for clearer statutes. The investigation will conclude with a final report and likely a referral to the Justice Department, though no specific individuals have been named for prosecution. Comer acknowledged multiple possible reasons for past failures, ranging from influence to inter-agency communication breakdowns.