Republicans in the House voted to block the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files on Monday, seemingly taking a cue from President Trump to move on from a controversy that Democrats are looking to exploit.
The House Rules committee voted 5-7 to reject an amendment from Democrat Ro Khanna (CA) that would force attorney general Pam Bondi to release the files. A lone Republican, Ralph Norman (SC), voted in favor.
“The public’s been asking for it. I think there are files. All of a sudden not to have files is a little strange. We’ll see how it plays out. … I think the president will do the right thing,” Norman said.
Epstein files vote
Trump has dismissed the persistent interest in Epstein among many of his supporters, calling the issue “boring” and a “hoax” started by Democrats to distract from his success. But many on the right are not satisfied with the administration’s answers.
The drama erupted after the Justice Department concluded that Epstein committed suicide in his prison cell while facing charges for sex trafficking. The DOJ also said it found no evidence that Epstein, a high-powered financier and pedophile, had a secret list of clients. Both findings cut against popular conspiracy theories that have swirled since Epstein died in 2019.
Bondi’s critics say her past statements created a misleading impression that undisclosed bombshells were forthcoming.
In February, when asked about a client list, Bondi told Fox News that it was on her desk. She has since clarified that she meant the general Epstein case file.
MAGA influencers have accused Bondi of hiding something nefarious, with some even suggesting without proof that Trump is implicated in the files.
Democrats exploit divide
Meanwhile, Democrats are seizing on the Epstein drama in an effort to discredit Trump and divide his movement. Democrats see the controversy as a way to recast themselves as challengers to a corrupt political establishment that shields the powerful from accountability.
“The question with Epstein is: Whose side are you on?” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told Axios.
“Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, or are you on the side of the people?” he said, promising to introduce the amendment “again and again and again.”
Critics of the new Democratic push have questioned why they did not push for transparency on Epstein during the Biden presidency.
Trump rejects “weaklings”
Trump’s tone shifted subtly on Tuesday, as he encouraged Bondi to release any “credible” information that is not already public.
The next day, he swore off support from “weaklings” in the MAGA movement who continue to pump the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.”
“I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” he wrote. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he went on.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), normally in step with Trump, has called for the files to come out.
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Author: Matthew Boose
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