Washington (TDI): The Republican-majority US House of Representatives is set to vote on Tuesday to demand the release of investigative records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The vote is expected to pass easily after President Donald Trump changed his stance on the matter. Trump, who had long opposed the disclosure of the files, reversed his position late on Sunday, just days after a petition in the House garnered enough support to force the vote. The move marks a rare instance of House Republicans opposing the president’s wishes.
Until the weekend, Trump and his team had been working hard to block the release of the files, which are part of an investigation by the US Department of Justice into Epstein, a wealthy financier who was once connected to Trump.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” Trump posted on social media late Sunday, calling the allegations a “hoax” spread by Democrats.
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While Trump insists the files should be made public, some of his supporters and Democrats argue that there is no “hoax” involved, given the authenticity of the Justice Department records. Epstein was convicted on charges of trafficking and sexually abusing underage girls. He died in his jail cell in 2019, officially ruled a suicide shortly after he was arrested on new federal sex trafficking charges.
The resolution, which the House will vote on, allows for redactions to protect victim identities but demands the release of all other relevant documents.
Trump, who socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, has denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities and claims that political adversaries are trying to smear him by suggesting otherwise. Recent emails have suggested that Epstein believed Trump was aware of the crimes, though there was no clear evidence linking Trump to the abuse. The White House has dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated.
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In response to ongoing investigations, Trump recently directed the Justice Department to probe the ties between prominent Democrats and Epstein. However, some of his supporters believe key documents are being withheld from the public to protect powerful figures.
This controversy has led to a public falling out between Trump and some of his staunch supporters, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who criticized how the party was handling the Epstein files. Trump condemned her remarks, calling her a “traitor.”
