President Donald Trump has called on House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, insisting there is “nothing to hide.”
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, he dismissed the controversy as a “Democrat hoax” driven by “Radical Left Lunatics” and claimed it was intended to distract from what he described as the Republican Party’s recent successes, including the end of the “Democrat ‘Shutdown.’” He had previously slammed House Republicans who backed releasing the files as “very bad, or stupid.” Newsweek contacted the White House for comment by email on Sunday evening.
On Monday, Trump added that he would be willing to sign legislation requiring the Department of Justice to release additional Epstein-related records if the bill makes it through Congress. His comments come as the House prepares to vote on the measure, which has drawn bipartisan interest amid renewed calls for transparency.
What To Know
- Trump has become more entangled in the political fallout surrounding Epstein following the release of several emails by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The messages referenced the president, including one that described him as the “dog that hasn’t barked.”
- The White House has argued that the emails were selectively disclosed to sympathetic media outlets in an effort to build what it calls a false narrative targeting Trump.
- Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he has “no problem” signing the Epstein records bill if it passes both the House and Senate.
- Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna introduced legislation over the summer directing the Department of Justice to release all unclassified materials related to the Epstein investigation.
- After the bill initially stalled without a vote, Massie filed a discharge petition to force action once it reached 218 signatures.
- The push reached a climax last week when the government shutdown ended and the House reconvened to take up the Senate’s spending bills. During that session, newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, a Democrat, was sworn in and became the 218th signatory on Massie’s petition.
- The House is expected to vote on Massie’s bill on Tuesday. If it passes, the measure would then move to the Senate, and if approved there, it would be sent to Trump’s desk for his signature.
