WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump is urging House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, stating Sunday night, “House Republicans must vote to release the Epstein files because we have nothing to hide.” Trump characterized the ongoing debate as “a Democratic hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics to distract from the great success of the Republican Party,including our recent victory over the Democratic government shutdown.”
The push for release comes as newly released emails, revealed last week by a House committee, show Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” the meaning of which remains unclear. Trump has dismissed the files as a Democratic smear campaign and has directed the Justice Department to investigate Democrats’ ties to Epstein.
The issue has created division within the Republican party, with some allies questioning the handling of the documents. Many of Trump’s supporters believe the government is withholding information about Epstein’s connections to powerful figures.
This dispute led Trump to withdraw his support from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Friday, after she criticized the Republican handling of the Epstein files, among other issues.
representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), an original author of the petition calling for a vote on releasing the files, anticipates over 40 Republicans will vote in favor. A vote is expected this week. Republicans currently hold a majority in the House with 219 seats, compared to the Democrats’ 214.
Trump and Epstein were photographed together decades ago, but Trump has maintained they had a falling out prior to Epstein’s 2019 suicide in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
