In a significant development, US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that he would approve a bill mandating the public release of the Justice Department's files concerning the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, provided the legislation successfully passes both chambers of Congress.
A Shift in Stance
Responding to a reporter's question from the Oval Office, President Trump confirmed his support. "Sure I would," he stated, adding, "Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it." However, he quickly framed the issue as a political liability for his opponents, remarking, "But don't talk about it too much, because honestly I don't want to take it away from us. It's really a Democrat problem." This marks a reversal from his position just days prior, where he had actively lobbied against the release of the files.
Imminent House Vote and Political Pressure
The political momentum for transparency is building rapidly. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the matter as early as Tuesday, November 18. The passage of the bill is widely anticipated after a discharge petition successfully gathered the necessary 218 signatures last week, a list that included support from four Republicans. This growing bipartisan pressure appears to be a key factor behind President Trump's change of heart, illustrating a rare instance of defiance from within his own party.
Emphasizing his distance from the scandal, Trump acknowledged telling lawmakers he had "nothing to do" with Epstein. He expressed a desire for the focus to remain on his administration's achievements, saying, "All I want is for people to recognize the great job that I've done. And I hate to see that deflect from the great job that we've done. So I'm all for it." This sentiment was echoed in a social media post on Sunday night, where he wrote, "House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide."
Background of the Epstein Case and Political Accusations
Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy New York financier, was convicted on state and federal charges for the sexual abuse and trafficking of minors. His death in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial was officially ruled a suicide. His former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
President Trump has consistently stated that he ended his friendship with Epstein in the 2000s and has vehemently denied any involvement in his crimes. He has accused his political opponents of orchestrating a smear campaign to link him to the scandal. While emails released by a House committee suggested Epstein believed Trump "knew about the girls," the White House has maintained these communications contain no proof of any wrongdoing. In a countermove, Trump has also instructed the Department of Justice to investigate the connections of prominent Democrats to Jeffrey Epstein.
