House to Vote on Epstein Files Release
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on legislation that would mandate the Department of Justice to publicly release unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has garnered support from both Democratic and some Republican members. Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor, indicated that a significant number of Republicans might vote in favor. Passage in the House appears likely, though its prospects in the Senate remain unclear.
Trump's Statement and Reversal
Former President Donald Trump has urged House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files, a shift from his previous position. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide." He also asserted that the Department of Justice had already provided tens of thousands of pages to the public on Epstein, and mentioned figures such as Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers in connection to Epstein. Trump further indicated that he did not object to the House Oversight Committee accessing legally entitled documents.
Context and Related Developments
This call for a vote follows the Department of Justice's confirmation that it would investigate alleged links between Epstein and major financial institutions, as well as several prominent individuals, including former President Bill Clinton. Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. JPMorgan Chase has also expressed regret for any association with Epstein, stating the firm did not assist in his actions.
Last week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three email exchanges, including correspondence between Epstein, who died in 2019, and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking. Some of these exchanges contained references to Trump. Subsequently, House Republicans released approximately 20,000 additional files, describing their action as a counter to a Democratic effort to select specific documents and create a "fake narrative." House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that a vote on releasing the documents could address allegations concerning Trump's past connections to Epstein.