Earlier this week, I continued to help lead the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the network of powerful people who helped Jeffrey Epstein maintain his wealth, influence, and access long after his crimes became known. As part of that effort, I questioned former Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler about her relationship with Epstein. The facts are deeply troubling. Ms. Ruemmler knew about Epstein's 2008 conviction, advised him on his continuing legal troubles, maintained a relationship with him long after nearly everyone else had stopped communicating with him, and was one of only three people Epstein called after his arrest in 2019.

In addition to Ruemmler’s testimony, Senator Elizabeth Warren and I continued pressing Goldman Sachs for answers after the firm's response to our previous inquiry raised more questions than answers. We are seeking records regarding Ms. Ruemmler's continued employment, what Goldman Sachs knew about her relationship with Epstein, and reports that the firm hired a reputation management company to bolster her public image following revelations about her ties to Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein did not operate alone. He relied on a network of powerful individuals who continued to support him, advise him, or remain connected to him long after the public knew who he was. Kathy Ruemmler is just one example of the broader questions the Committee is investigating. I will continue following the facts wherever they lead—not only to help ensure something like this never happens again, but also to help secure justice for the thousands of survivors who still deserve answers.

Fighting Trump's Election Takeover and Defending Free and Fair Elections

For nearly six years, President Trump has tried to rewrite the history of the 2020 election. Now, those same false claims are being used to justify unprecedented efforts to reshape how future elections are conducted—including in his address to the nation last night. From politicizing intelligence to pressuring states with new federal election mandates, the Administration continues to undermine confidence in our democratic process. Our elections should be decided by voters—not politicians abusing the powers of government.

I also continued pushing back against the Administration's broader voter suppression agenda. Last week, FEMA announced it would threaten to withhold more than $1 billion in counterterrorism funding unless states adopted new federal election requirements unrelated to preventing terrorism. In response, I demanded that the agency reverse course and stop using homeland security funding to pressure states into changing how they administer elections. I also continued pressing the Postal Service to publicly commit to following a federal court order blocking President Trump's mail voting restrictions. The law is clear: no president can override it with an executive order. The Postal Service should deliver ballots—not decide who gets to vote.

I also pressed Polymarket for answers about reports that the company paid influencers who promoted election denial claims while advertising election betting markets. Whether it's politicizing intelligence, threatening counterterrorism funding, restricting mail voting, or allowing financial incentives to fuel election denial, these efforts all point in the same direction. I will continue using every oversight tool available to protect free, fair, and secure elections because every eligible American deserves to cast a ballot—and know it will be counted.

Every American's path to success looks different. Some pursue a four-year college degree. Others build successful careers through military service, apprenticeships, community college, career and technical education, or years of experience on the job. Our education and workforce policies should recognize and support every one of those paths.

For students who choose college, Senator Jeff Merkley and I reintroduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act to crack down on predatory colleges that leave students buried in debt with degrees that fail to prepare them for the careers they were promised. Higher education should be a pathway to the middle class—not a pipeline to debt. Our legislation would ensure taxpayer-funded financial aid supports programs that deliver real value while holding schools accountable for the promises they make to students.

At the same time, I introduced the bipartisan Federal Jobs for STARs Act to help qualified Americans who gained their skills outside a traditional four-year degree compete for federal jobs based on what they can do—not simply whether they have a bachelor's degree. Millions of Americans have developed valuable skills through military service, apprenticeships, community college, career and technical education, and years of experience. They deserve the same opportunity to succeed, and the federal government should lead by example by hiring based on skills and experience.

Standing Up for American Research and Protecting It from Foreign Threats

In Washington, we spend a lot of time talking about research security. That's important. But here's a question we aren't asking often enough: What exactly are we protecting if we stop investing in research in the first place? America became the world's innovation leader by investing in scientific research, attracting extraordinary talent from around the world, and turning new discoveries into new companies, new industries, and millions of good-paying jobs. Today, we're moving in the opposite direction.

This week, I warned that the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy's Office of Science—including Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois—are undermining America's scientific leadership at the very moment China is increasing its investments in research and development. As I said during the hearing, "We're killing the very research we're attempting to protect." These cuts don't just threaten future discoveries. They drive talented scientists elsewhere, weaken America's competitiveness, and leave us with "nothing left to steal."

Protecting American research also means protecting the businesses, manufacturers, and critical infrastructure that depend on it. Following reports that Russian hackers were responsible for the devastating cyberattack against Jaguar Land Rover, Congressman Austin Scott and I called on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to strengthen protections for American manufacturers, defense supply chains, and critical infrastructure. America wins by creating more innovation—not less—and by protecting it from those who seek to steal or sabotage it.