House Judiciary Committee Democrats on Monday called for an independent special counsel to investigate President Donald Trump's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. NBC News and the Washington Examiner reported the new minority staff report. The 53-page document cites testimony from 11 women who allege Trump took part in abuse.

Democrats wrote that a growing body of evidence shows the president was an active participant in Epstein's crimes. Those claims are allegations in the report and have not been proven in court. The panel urged the Justice Department to appoint counsel outside normal political control.

The White House said the report was nothing more than a desperate attempt by crazed Democrats to distract Americans. Trump has long denied wrongdoing tied to Epstein. The pages did not show a Justice Department decision on a special counsel.

The report lands in the final week before the midterms. Republicans dismissed it as a partisan hit. Democrats said the evidence required an independent probe that career prosecutors alone may not deliver.

What we know: House Judiciary Democrats urged a special counsel and the White House rejected the report.
What we don't: Whether the Justice Department will appoint one.