WASHINGTON — Lawmakers sparred with FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday over his handling of investigative materials related to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and whether his posture changed because President Donald Trump’s name appeared in them.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, showed videos of Patel saying that the FBI was not releasing a list of Epstein clients because of who is named on it and commenting that the FBI director had authority to release Epstein’s client list as well as direct control of his black book. Those comments from Patel were made before he was in the role of FBI director.

“So you were sworn in as director more than 200 days ago. Now the black book is under your direct control,” Raskin said at the oversight hearing. “So why haven’t you released the names of Epstein’s co-conspirators in the rape and sex trafficking of young women and girls?”

Patel said the FBI has released more material than anyone else before and went into statistics about sex offenders arrested this year. He pointed to what he said are three court orders that have hamstrung the investigation and release of materials.

“I literally just told you: There are multiple federal court orders. I’m not going to break the law to satisfy your curiosity,” Patel told Raskin, in a defiant tone he often took during the more than five-hour hearing.

Patel, a close ally of President Donald Trump, pushed back against lawmakers and many times sought to sidestep questions on the Epstein matter.

The lawmakers’ questions came after the Justice Department and the FBI said in a memo this summer that a review of the investigative material on Epstein revealed no “incriminating ‘client list.’” The memorandum also said that no other documents would be released.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a leader in a push to release the Epstein files, told Patel that victims who cooperated with the FBI have said that the agency has documents that detail at least 20 high-profile men who Epstein trafficked victims to.

Massie said that includes “one Hollywood producer worth a few hundred million dollars, one royal prince, one high-profile individual in the music industry, one very prominent banker, one high-profile government official, one high-profile former politician, one owner of a car company in Italy, one rock star, one magician, at least six billionaires, including a billionaire from Canada.”

“We know these people exist in the FBI files, the files that you control. I don’t know exactly who they are, but the FBI does,” Massie said.

Massie asked if the FBI had launched any investigations into those people. Patel responded that “any investigations that arise from any credible investigation will be brought. There have been no new materials brought to me.”

Massie has filed a discharge petition that, if it gets 218 signatures, could be used to bring legislation to the floor that would call for the disclosure of records, documents and investigative materials related to Epstein that are currently in the possession of the Department of Justice. That number could be reached if a Democrat is elected in Arizona special election and signs on.

Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., questioned Patel on whether those court orders actually covered all the materials, and what else Patel could have done to make sure they were released. “You are hiding the Epstein files, Mr. Patel,” Goldman said. “You are part of the cover up.”

Patel responded by saying any allegations that he is part of a cover up to protect child sexual trafficking “is patently and categorically false.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., asked Patel multiple times whether he informed Attorney General Pamela Bondi that Trump’s name appeared in the Epstein files.

“It sounds like you don’t want to tell us. Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name was in the Epstein files?” Swalwell asked.

“Why don’t you try serving your constituency by focusing on reducing violent crime in this country? And the number of pedophiles that are legally harbored in your sanctuary cities in California,” Patel responded, raising his voice. “I’ll work with you on that.”

Swalwell asked the question again. “The question has been asked and answered,” Patel said.

“You’ve not answered it,” Swalwell responded. “And we will take your evasiveness as a consciousness of guilt.”

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