The Republican controlled US House set to vote on release of Epstein documents at Tuesday to push for the release of investigative files concerning pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, marking the latest development in a scandal linked to Donald Trump since his White House return. Over the weekend, Trump reversed his prior opposition and on Sunday dropped his resistance to the vote on releasing documents from the US Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into Epstein. By Monday, Trump stated he would sign the measure should it reach his desk.
Trump’s association with Epstein has long been a contentious issue in American politics, as Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019, was connected to many wealthy and influential figures in the US and abroad. While Trump had promised to release these files during his reelection campaign, he had not followed through after resuming office. The shift in Trump’s stance came as it became clear the bill was likely to pass in the House, garnering considerable Republican support. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson moved from outright opposition to a stance of indifference, with Trump posting on social media on Sunday, “I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT.”
US House set to vote on release of Epstein documents
In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he did not want the Epstein scandal to overshadow the White House’s accomplishments, labeling it a “hoax” and “a Democrat problem.” “We’ll give them everything,” he told reporters, adding, “Let the Senate look at it, let anybody look at it, but don’t talk about it too much, because honestly, I don’t want to take it away from us.”
As president, Trump has authority to order the release of Justice Department documents, as he has previously done with government records related to the assassinations of Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Trump on X to “Just release the files now.”
In July, Democrats Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie used a procedural tactic called a discharge petition to force a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, provided a majority of the 435 House members sign it. Speaker Johnson went to great lengths to avoid the vote, which caused divisions within his party. Democrats accused him of delaying the swearing-in of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva to prevent her from being the 218th signer needed; Grijalva signed the petition shortly after being sworn in last week.
Following Trump’s reversal, several House Republicans, including close allies of the president, announced their intention to vote for releasing the files, raising the possibility of unanimous passage. If passed by the House, the bill will move to the Senate, where a vote is also required before reaching Trump. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office declined comment on the bill’s prospects.
Khanna, leading the House push, told Pod Save America on Monday he expects the bill to move “quickly” through the Senate. Recently released emails showed Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” though the White House stated the emails contained no evidence of Trump’s wrongdoing. Trump has directed the Justice Department to investigate Democrats’ ties to Epstein; US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who earlier reported no new leads in the files, appointed a prosecutor to lead this investigation promptly. (Source)
The Epstein scandal remains a central issue for many in Trump’s right-wing base, including believers in related conspiracy theories. Unlike other issues, Epstein’s files have caused notable dissent among Trump supporters in politics and media, with calls for him to fulfill his commitment to release the records. Meanwhile, Epstein survivors have intensified calls on Congress to act. One victim said in a video from World Without Exploitation, “It’s time to bring the secret’s out of the shadows.” On Monday night, activists projected images of Trump and Epstein onto the Justice Department building, demanding: “Release the files now.”
