Trump Reverses Course and Demands Immediate Release of Epstein Records

President Donald Trump executed a stunning reversal on Sunday, publicly urging House Republicans to support the immediate release of all Jeffrey Epstein-related files, insisting “we have nothing to hide” and framing opposition as a “Democrat Hoax” orchestrated to distract from Republican achievements. The directive, posted on social media shortly after Air Force One touched down at Joint Base Andrews from Florida, marks a sharp departure from months of White House and GOP leadership resistance to the transparency measure.

The bipartisan bill, spearheaded by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), is poised for a decisive House victory this week, with Massie forecasting a “deluge” of over 100 Republican votes—potentially achieving a veto-proof majority. Using a rare discharge petition filed in July, lawmakers bypassed Speaker Mike Johnson’s blockade, forcing a floor vote that mandates the Justice Department to disclose Epstein’s full communications, sex-trafficking investigation records, and details surrounding his 2019 prison death, while allowing redactions solely for victim identities and ongoing federal probes.

Trump’s abrupt shift implicitly concedes that the legislation has amassed unstoppable momentum within his own party, despite earlier denunciations. Speaker Johnson, who once derailed the August legislative calendar to avoid the vote and delayed seating Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) until she became the pivotal 218th petition signature, now signals resignation: “We’ll just get this done—there’s nothing to hide.” The House Oversight Committee asserts it has already exceeded the bill’s disclosure requirements through prior releases.

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Freshly unearthed 2019 emails from Epstein to a journalist claiming Trump “knew about the girls” have intensified Democratic accusations of targeted leaks aimed at tarnishing the president. The White House condemns the selective disclosures as political smears; Trump’s name surfaced in February DOJ releases with no evidence of wrongdoing. Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial, maintained ties with numerous high-profile figures across politics and entertainment—none implicating Trump in criminal activity.

Even if the House delivers an overwhelming mandate, Senate passage under Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) remains uncertain, with Massie banking on mounting pressure from a massive lower-chamber margin. Warning recalcitrant Republicans, Massie declared: “The record of this vote will outlast Donald Trump’s presidency.” With Epstein victims scheduled to appear at a Tuesday Capitol press conference, the transparency fight lays bare deepening GOP divisions and elevates accountability demands across party lines.

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