Representative Mike Lawler, a first-term Republican from New York, said on CNN News Central on 14 July that the continuing political and media focus on the late financier Jeffrey Epstein amounts to “a colossal waste of time and effort, and frankly, a lot of nonsense.” Lawler added that the country faces more pressing issues and described Epstein—who died in federal custody in 2019 after pleading guilty to sex-trafficking charges—as “a dead pedophile.” Lawler’s remarks came amid renewed public interest in the so-called “Epstein Files,” binders of documents the White House distributed to social-media influencers shortly after President Donald Trump returned to office. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the Justice Department would release a full client list, but neither her office nor the FBI has produced the material despite repeated inquiries. The New York congressman said anyone proven to have participated in Epstein’s crimes should be prosecuted, yet he dismissed further investigation absent new evidence. His comments echo President Trump’s own statement last week that ongoing questions about Epstein were “unbelievable” given the financier’s death six years ago.