WASHINGTON: In a major reversal, US President Donald Trump has urged Republicans in Congress to support the release of long-awaited files linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
favorTrump, who previously opposed the disclosure, posted on Truth Social saying Republicans should vote in favour of releasing the documents, insisting he has “nothing to hide.” He added that it was time to “move on from this Democrat hoax” aimed at damaging his political standing.
Trump’s shift comes shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that releasing the Justice Department’s Epstein records could dispel accusations suggesting Trump had any link to Epstein’s crimes involving underage girls.
Though Trump and Epstein were photographed together years ago, Trump has long maintained that the two had a falling-out well before Epstein’s legal troubles. Recently released committee emails show Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” though the context remains unclear.
—aDespite dismissing the Epstein files as a political smear, Trump has now directed the Department of Justice to investigate Democratic ties to Epstein’s network — a move that has intensified a growing divide within the Republican Party.
Tensions escalated further after Trump withdrew support for Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of his closest allies, following her criticism of GOP handling of the Epstein document controversy.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, co-sponsor of the petition demanding transparency, said he expects over 40 Republicans to support the upcoming vote. With the GOP holding the House majority, the push to release the Epstein files now has a stronger chance of succeeding.
#TrumpNews #EpsteinFiles #USPolitics #CongressUpdate #Republicans #TruthSocial
