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Epstein records disclosure urged
President Donald Trump unexpectedly urged House Republicans to vote to release Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“"President Trump urged House Republicans to vote to release all government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying “we have nothing to hide.”"”
He framed the move as transparency and called the controversy a "Democrat Hoax."
Posting on Truth Social, he wrote that Republicans should back disclosure because "we have nothing to hide," which marked a reversal from his earlier reluctance.
He said the disclosure would help the party "get BACK ON POINT."
The appeal followed weeks of public pressure, recent committee disclosures, and growing calls from survivors and some lawmakers for fuller release of government records tied to Epstein.
Epstein documents controversy
The push for disclosure follows publication of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents by both Democrats and Republicans.
Committee-released emails included references to Mr. Trump, notably a line in a 2011 email that said Epstein believed Trump "knew about the girls".
Other emails referenced "Virginia", which outlets linked to Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre.
Republicans countered Democratic postings by publishing roughly 20,000 pages of files and accused Democrats of "cherry-picking" documents to damage Trump.
GOP disclosure fight
The disclosure fight has deepened tensions inside the GOP.
“The appeal comes amid pressure from fellow Republicans to fulfill a campaign promise to release the files, creating unusual divisions within the GOP.”
Trump publicly rebuked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for pressing the issue and withdrew his support after her messages.
Bipartisan tactics, including a discharge petition backed by all House Democrats and four Republicans, forced leadership to schedule a floor vote.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who helped prompt the petition, said he expected more than 40 Republicans to back public disclosure.
Some conservative figures have predicted far larger defections, with a few outlets and lawmakers speculating numbers as high as 100.
White House investigations and reactions
Alongside calls for transparency, the White House pushed investigations into others named in the documents.
The administration said it had asked the Justice Department to open inquiries into prominent Democrats' ties to Epstein.
Attorney General Pam Bondi was reported to have announced a DOJ probe that named Jay Clayton to lead the inquiry.
Trump and allies framed these moves as part of exposing selective leaks and alleged political motives behind prior disclosures.
Vote on Epstein documents
Background context and victims' calls underscored the stakes of the vote.
“Background: Epstein was arrested on sex‑trafficking charges and was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 (ruled a suicide). He had been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Ghislaine Maxwell, his associate, was later convicted and is serving a 20‑year sentence.”
Jeffrey Epstein, convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting federal charges, and Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted and is serving a 20-year sentence.
Survivors and Virginia Giuffre's family have urged Congress to approve full disclosure, and proponents of the Epstein Files Transparency Act say the House vote is likely this week, although any final measure would still face Senate hurdles and require the president's signature.