Trump’s Surprise U-Turn: Majority Votes To Release the Epstein Files
The U.S. Congress approved the release of the Epstein files. But an investigation ordered by President Donald Trump could stall the release.
After much hesitation, the U.S. Congress passed a bill on Tuesday, Nov. 18, mandating the release of all files and documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House of Representatives voted almost unanimously in favor of the motion. Soon afterward, the Senate moved swiftly to follow suit.
In spite of that, it is not certain whether the files will ever see the light of day. A new investigation ordered by Trump into Democrats and financial institutions and their association with Epstein could ultimately prevent this.
The Congressional vote was nevertheless a success for Epstein's victims. Several of them were in Washington to personally witness the vote. The clear outcome of the vote in the House of Representatives (427-1) had long seemed impossible. Only the president's surprising U-turn over the weekend made this possible. After months of resistance, Trump and the Republican leaders in Congress had to succumb to public pressure.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, the 79-year-old stated that the Republicans in the House of Representatives should vote to release the so-called Epstein files because: “ ... we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics.”
Just prior to that, Trump had endeavored to block the release of the files. The Epstein scandal has deeply fractured the president's Make America Great Again coalition in recent months. Trump began his second term by pledging to release the Epstein files to ensure transparency in the case of the convicted child sex offender. But then the government suddenly declared that all investigations into the case were complete and that no further legal consequences would follow.
Epstein Files Divide MAGA
This encountered resistance from MAGA supporters and many other Republicans. Above all, right-wing influencers assume that the Epstein files contain a possible client list that could reveal the names of high-profile people. Among conspiracy theorists, like the QAnon supporters, Epstein is also seen as the perfect example underscoring the belief in a satanic global conspiracy of pedophiles.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had long been among Trump's staunchest supporters in Congress, has distanced herself in recent weeks from the president after he initially sought to block the release of the Epstein files. Prior to that, she had already voiced her strong displeasure over the government shutdown.
Before Tuesday's vote, Greene stated that the government's handling of the Epstein files would be extremely damaging to the MAGA movement. As she told reporters, “This has been one of the most destructive things to MAGA ... watching the man that we supported early on, three elections,” oppose the bill. And then, “Watching this actually turn into a fight has ripped MAGA apart.”
Trump, who maintained a long friendship with Epstein, denies any knowledge of his sexual offenses. Only last week, Democrats released new emails related to Epstein, mentioning by name both Trump and billionaire LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, as well as former U.S. treasury secretary and later Harvard president, Larry Summers.
An Investigation of the Democrats
Trump subsequently called for a new investigation. “I will be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him,” explained the president on Friday.
Bondi immediately complied with the request. Yet this very investigation could now prevent the release of the files, or at least curtail it. On Sunday, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said on ABC News that certain documents might not be released due to the ongoing investigations.
Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday and announced that he would promptly sign the law to release the Epstein files. It is not yet known whether and when the files will actually be made public.
Trump could have authorized the release of the Epstein files at any moment, even without a congressional vote. The political consequences are not yet apparent, but it is fair to say that the Trump administration has squandered much political capital because of the Epstein scandal.
After much hesitation, the U.S. Congress passed a bill on Tuesday, Nov. 18, mandating the release of all files and documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House of Representatives voted almost unanimously in favor of the motion. Soon afterward, the Senate moved swiftly to follow suit.
In spite of that, it is not certain whether the files will ever see the light of day. A new investigation ordered by Trump into Democrats and financial institutions and their association with Epstein could ultimately prevent this.
The Congressional vote was nevertheless a success for Epstein's victims. Several of them were in Washington to personally witness the vote. The clear outcome of the vote in the House of Representatives (427-1) had long seemed impossible. Only the president's surprising U-turn over the weekend made this possible. After months of resistance, Trump and the Republican leaders in Congress had to succumb to public pressure.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, the 79-year-old stated that the Republicans in the House of Representatives should vote to release the so-called Epstein files because: “ ... we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics.”
Just prior to that, Trump had endeavored to block the release of the files. The Epstein scandal has deeply fractured the president's Make America Great Again coalition in recent months. Trump began his second term by pledging to release the Epstein files to ensure transparency in the case of the convicted child sex offender. But then the government suddenly declared that all investigations into the case were complete and that no further legal consequences would follow.
Epstein Files Divide MAGA
This encountered resistance from MAGA supporters and many other Republicans. Above all, right-wing influencers assume that the Epstein files contain a possible client list that could reveal the names of high-profile people. Among conspiracy theorists, like the QAnon supporters, Epstein is also seen as the perfect example underscoring the belief in a satanic global conspiracy of pedophiles.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had long been among Trump's staunchest supporters in Congress, has distanced herself in recent weeks from the president after he initially sought to block the release of the Epstein files. Prior to that, she had already voiced her strong displeasure over the government shutdown.
Before Tuesday's vote, Greene stated that the government's handling of the Epstein files would be extremely damaging to the MAGA movement. As she told reporters, “This has been one of the most destructive things to MAGA ... watching the man that we supported early on, three elections,” oppose the bill. And then, “Watching this actually turn into a fight has ripped MAGA apart.”
Trump, who maintained a long friendship with Epstein, denies any knowledge of his sexual offenses. Only last week, Democrats released new emails related to Epstein, mentioning by name both Trump and billionaire LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, as well as former U.S. treasury secretary and later Harvard president, Larry Summers.
An Investigation of the Democrats
Trump subsequently called for a new investigation. “I will be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him,” explained the president on Friday.
Bondi immediately complied with the request. Yet this very investigation could now prevent the release of the files, or at least curtail it. On Sunday, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said on ABC News that certain documents might not be released due to the ongoing investigations.
Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday and announced that he would promptly sign the law to release the Epstein files. It is not yet known whether and when the files will actually be made public.
Trump could have authorized the release of the Epstein files at any moment, even without a congressional vote. The political consequences are not yet apparent, but it is fair to say that the Trump administration has squandered much political capital because of the Epstein scandal.
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