Today, Republicans in the House are likely to vote on a significant measure regarding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a decision that follows an unexpected endorsement from former President Donald Trump. This bipartisan initiative, spearheaded by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), has sparked considerable discord within the party and among its supporters. For a long time, Trump and Republican leadership resisted allowing this measure to reach the House floor.
Just last week, White House officials engaged in discussions with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) regarding her stance on the release of the Epstein files; however, her position remained unchanged following the meeting. Trump has publicly criticized Republicans advocating for the release, targeting Massie and most recently Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Nevertheless, over the weekend, Trump shifted his stance, indicating that he now supports the bill as a vote in the House appears to be forthcoming.
During a recent press conference at the White House, Trump expressed his belief that the Senate should also consider the bill and affirmed that he would sign it into law if it passes. The proposed measure would mandate the Justice Department to disclose all its files pertaining to the convicted sex offender within 30 days. “I’m all for it,” Trump stated from the Oval Office, although he maintained that the situation was a hoax that could distract from his party’s achievements.
It's noteworthy that Trump does not require legislation to authorize the release of these files; however, he mentioned that Congress has the authority to proceed with the vote. His comments came in the wake of a simple majority of House members signing a discharge petition, a procedural tactic used to force votes without the need for leadership or committee approval. Last week, the newest member of the chamber, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), provided the pivotal 218th signature on this petition. Grijalva’s swearing-in was delayed for seven weeks post-election, prompting accusations from Democrats that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was intentionally stalling the vote. Johnson refuted these claims, stating that her oath of office would only be administered once the government shutdown issue was addressed, while also pledging not to obstruct the vote on the House floor.
The anticipated vote arrives on the heels of a recent release of Epstein files by members of the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. Initially, Democrats made public a set of three emails, which was subsequently followed by thousands of new documents released by the committee's chairman, James Comer (R-Ky.). These documents have reignited inquiries into the nature of Trump’s relationship with Epstein prior to the latter’s death in 2019.
In a show of solidarity for the survivors, Massie and Khanna plan to convene with victims and their families ahead of the vote. They last collaborated on Capitol Hill in September, advocating for the release of the Epstein files, emphasizing that transparency is vital for holding those complicit fully accountable. Survivors reinforced this message in a letter sent to Congress last Friday, urging for the release of records related to Epstein and his long-time associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently incarcerated in Texas following her conviction on trafficking charges. The crimes committed by Epstein and Maxwell have laid bare a troubling double standard of justice, wherein affluent and influential individuals often evade punishment.