House Democrats launched a bid Wednesday to subpoena President Donald Trump's Justice Department for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, goading GOP lawmakers to defy Trump and Republican leadership to support the action.

Democrats are launching a last-minute effort to subpoena the Department of Justice for its files on Jeffrey Epstein before the House leaves for its five-week summer recess. Why it matters: It is not clear how Republicans will respond after spending the last two weeks blocking similar Democratic efforts at President Trump's urging.

Democrats on the Oversight Committee made a motion for the subpoena, just hours before the House was scheduled to end its work session.