H.R. 7857: No Escaping Justice Act of 2026
Sponsor
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Democrat · FL-25
Foreign Epstein associates face asset freezes and visa bans
Why it matters
Within 90 days, H.R. 7857 would require the President to give Congress a list of foreign people tied to Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking enterprise and, in most cases, freeze their U.S.-reachable assets and revoke their visas. The bill turns outrage into a sanctions tool that reaches beyond U.S. criminal cases.
H.R. 7857 would require the President to identify foreign people connected to Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking enterprise within 90 days and, in most cases, freeze their U.S.-reachable assets and revoke their visas.
The bill covers more than direct trafficking. It also reaches people the President determines knowingly helped finance, organize, profit from, or conceal the enterprise, as well as people who intimidated or retaliated against victims, witnesses, or law enforcement.
This is not a dragnet based on a name appearing in records. The bill says a person's name in Epstein-related files alone is not enough for sanctions; the President would need credible information from sources like court records, U.S. agencies, foreign governments, or NGO reporting.
Once someone is identified, the sanctions are mandatory unless the President uses a waiver. That means blocking property in the United States or under a U.S. person's control, canceling visas, and barring entry.
The reporting does not stop after the first list. The White House would have to send Congress annual follow-up reports for five years, creating continuing pressure to revisit names, evidence, and enforcement.
The bill's real power is practical: if a foreign associate keeps money, business ties, or travel access linked to the United States, this bill tries to cut that off even without a new U.S. criminal conviction.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 5, 2026
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
H.R. 7857 Bill Summary
What H.R. 7857 actually does.
Foreign associates get named on a 90-day clock
The President would have 90 days after enactment to send Congress a report identifying foreign people determined, based on credible information, to have knowingly engaged in covered conduct. Updated reports would be required annually for five years.
Asset freezes reach money with U.S. exposure
Anyone identified would face blocked property and transactions if the property is in the United States, enters the United States, or is held or controlled by a U.S. person.
Visa revocations and entry bans follow the designation
Identified foreign people would become ineligible for visas and admission to the United States, and existing visas or entry documents would have to be revoked under applicable law.
Profit, concealment, and witness intimidation all count
The bill covers not just trafficking itself, but also knowingly financing, facilitating, profiting from, or helping conceal the enterprise, plus threatening or corruptly influencing victims, witnesses, or law enforcement.
A name in the files is not enough by itself
The bill says appearance in Epstein-related records alone cannot support a sanctions determination. The President would need credible information from additional sources such as judicial proceedings, U.S. agencies, foreign governments, or NGO reporting.
Sanctions can be waived or lifted in limited cases
The President could waive sanctions for national-interest or protected intelligence, law-enforcement, or national-security reasons with advance notice to Congress. Sanctions could also be terminated if the person was wrongly identified, was prosecuted and served a sentence, or shows major behavioral change and cooperation.
Who benefits from H.R. 7857?
Victims and survivors seeking accountability beyond U.S. courts
If foreign associates helped finance, conceal, or profit from the enterprise, this bill creates a way to cut off U.S. assets and travel access even when a new U.S. criminal case is not on the table.
Congress and investigators tracking foreign enablers
Lawmakers would get an initial report within 90 days and annual updates for five years, creating a recurring paper trail on who the administration has identified and whether sanctions were imposed.
People who want a higher evidence bar than rumor
The bill requires a presidential determination based on credible information and says a name appearing in Epstein-related records alone is not enough.
Who is affected by H.R. 7857?
Foreign people tied to the enterprise or its cover-up
If the President determines they knowingly trafficked, facilitated, financed, profited from, or helped conceal the enterprise, they could lose access to U.S.-reachable assets and be barred from entering the United States.
Banks, businesses, and other U.S. persons handling assets
They would have to comply with sanctions restrictions on blocked property and prohibited transactions involving anyone designated under the bill.
The White House, State Department, Treasury, and Justice Department
These agencies would have to build the report, assess evidence, coordinate sanctions, notify Congress about waivers, and revisit designations annually for five years.
HR7857 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Mar 5, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Democrat, Florida's 25th congressional district · 21 years in Congress
Committees: Appropriations, Foreign Affairs
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
0 of 44 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Foreign Affairs Committee
0 of 53 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
40 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 7857 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Mar 5, 2026
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Mar 5, 2026
H.R. 7857 Common Questions
What does H.R. 7857 actually do?
It would require the President to identify foreign people tied to Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking enterprise and, in most cases, freeze their U.S.-reachable assets and revoke their visas.
How fast would the first Epstein sanctions list come out?
The first report would be due within 90 days after H.R. 7857 becomes law, with annual follow-up reports for 5 years.
Does being named in Epstein files automatically mean sanctions?
No. H.R. 7857 says a name appearing in Epstein-related records alone is not enough. The President would need credible information from other sources too.
Who could be sanctioned under H.R. 7857?
Foreign people the President determines knowingly trafficked, facilitated, financed, profited from, or helped conceal the enterprise, or intimidated victims, witnesses, or law enforcement.
What happens if someone is sanctioned?
Their property in the United States or under a U.S. person's control could be blocked, and they could lose visas and be barred from entering the country.
Could the President waive the sanctions?
Yes. H.R. 7857 allows a waiver for national-interest reasons or to protect authorized intelligence, law-enforcement, or national-security activity, with notice to Congress.
Can someone get removed from the sanctions list?
Yes. Sanctions could be terminated if the person was wrongly identified, was prosecuted and served a sentence, or later showed major behavioral change, cooperation, and remediation.
Is this bill about Americans too?
No. H.R. 7857 is written for foreign persons, though U.S. people and companies would still have to comply with any sanctions imposed under the bill.
Based on H.R. 7857 bill text
H.R. 7857 Bill Text
“To impose sanctions on foreign persons the President determines to have knowingly engaged in, facilitated, or benefitted from severe forms of trafficking in persons in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking enterprise or in connection with efforts to conceal, facilitate, finance, or profit from such enterprise.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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