On December 3, 2025, Representative Robert Garcia, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced the acquisition of previously unseen photos and videos from Jeffrey Epstein’s Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This material was obtained following a request to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation into Epstein's criminal activities. The Committee also secured records from financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank, which are expected to be made public after a review process.

Garcia emphasized the importance of transparency in the investigation, stating that the newly released images provide troubling insights into Epstein's operations. He reiterated the Committee's commitment to seeking justice for the survivors of Epstein's crimes and called for President Trump to release all relevant files related to the case. On November 18, 2025, the Committee had previously requested documents and communications from the U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General concerning investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

In a related development, a bipartisan proposal aimed at banning stock trading by members of Congress is gaining traction ahead of a potential vote. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna initiated a discharge petition to bypass House leadership and force a vote on this measure. Under the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks, provided they disclose these transactions within 30 days. However, there is growing support for an outright ban due to concerns about insider knowledge that lawmakers may possess regarding market-moving events, raising questions about conflicts of interest and public trust.

The proposed legislation, known as the Restore Trust in Congress Act, seeks to prohibit members of Congress and their immediate families from engaging in stock trading. Luna had previously indicated her intention to file a discharge petition earlier this year, urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to act on the proposal. This effort was temporarily halted due to a government shutdown, during which the House was not in session.

Luna stated, "We have decided, because of a lack of movement from the House of Representatives, to initiate the discharge petition on banning insider trading, meaning it is live now." The petition requires 218 signatures to trigger a vote and has already garnered significant bipartisan support, with over 100 cosponsors. Representative Tim Burchett, who is collaborating with Luna on the legislation, expressed his support for the petition, stating, "End congressional stock trading." He characterized the current state of Congress as dysfunctional and emphasized the need for reform.

Other Republican representatives, including Lauren Boebert and Elise Stefanik, have also indicated their intention to sign the petition. Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner, a lead sponsor of the bill, noted that there is still some quiet opposition to the ban within both parties. Former lawmakers have expressed their support, with over 90 past members sending a letter to Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging them to bring the Restore Trust in Congress Act to a vote.

Luna remarked that there is widespread agreement among the American public, regardless of political affiliation, that members of Congress should not profit from insider knowledge. Kedric Payne, Senior Director of Ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, highlighted the bipartisan momentum behind the initiative, stating that lawmakers are positioned to address the longstanding issue of congressional stock trading. Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics lawyer, noted that the issue transcends party lines and expressed hope for the measure's passage, although he acknowledged skepticism based on past attempts to enact similar reforms.