Trump Makes A U-Turn On Epstein Files As House Votes For Release
President Trump abruptly reversed course on Sunday night, saying House Republicans should actually support a measure to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” he wrote, calling the controversy a partisan distraction.
How we got here: Last week, four Republicans joined House Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bypassing GOP leadership. The White House had been lobbying them not to support the petition, but realizing they were on the losing side of the fight, switched positions.
The legislation would require the Justice Department to release the case files related to Epstein. Note: It is still not clear what will be released even if the bill becomes a law.
What’s next: The House is expected to vote tomorrow on the proposal, which had threatened to become a test of GOP loyalty. Dozens of Republicans were poised to break with the president after months of pressure from the White House to oppose the measure.
One of Trump’s loudest supporters, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) was one of the initial four GOP votes. Her support for releasing the Epstein files led Trump to withdraw his support and endorsement of her re-election, calling her a “traitor,” “disgrace,” and “wacky.”
MORE ON THE EPSTEIN FILES
Based on a request from President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered a federal prosecutor to specifically investigate Epstein’s ties to Democrats and Trump’s political foes, including Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
Bottom line: Trump has the power to order the DOJ to release most of the information in the Epstein files without legislation. Additionally, even if the Epstein Files Transparency Act is passed, the DOJ might say that they cannot release the files because of an ongoing investigation.
Polling from NPR and CBS shows 80–90% of Americans want the Epstein files released — with victims’ names redacted.
Over the weekend, Trump dismissed a leaked email in which Epstein allegedly claimed Trump “knew about the girls.” He confirmed the two had been friends, but had a public falling out. None of the files have alleged so far that Trump or Clinton ever took part in Epstein’s sexual abuse.
MAGA BREAKUP
Greene says that, as a Republican who overwhelmingly supports Trump’s agenda, his attacks against her are “shocking” and “fuels the venomous nature of his radical internet trolls (many of whom are paid).” She has received threats and hoaxes in the days following her rift with Trump.
CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday pushed back, pointing to Greene’s own long history of extreme rhetoric. Over recent years, Greene has:
Said Nancy Pelosi committed “treason” — suggesting the crime was “punishable by death”
Mocked a Parkland school shooting survivors
Claimed Black Americans are “are held slaves to the Democratic Party”
Labeled GOP colleagues “traitors” for backing Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill
Warned of an “Islamic invasion” by Muslim members of Congress
Proposed a “national divorce” between red and blue states
She has also compared Democrats to feral hogs and said they are a “party of pedophiles.”
Greene said she now recognizes that her rhetoric contributed to threats toward others — and that it is something she is “taking seriously” moving forward.