I did not see this one coming. Did you?
Facing potentially dozens of Republican House defects Trump Backs Vote to Release Epstein Files
President Trump threw in the towel on dissuading House Republicans from backing a measure to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying Sunday night that GOP lawmakers should instead embrace the vote.
The vote set for this week had been shaping up as a major test of GOP loyalty to the president, who has kept an iron grip over the party since starting his second term in January. Dozens of Republicans were expected to potentially break with the president when the measure hit the House floor, and Trump’s announcement Sunday night avoids a potential embarrassment for the White House.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump wrote on social media, calling it a distraction from GOP successes.
What Happened?
Politico reports “Senior Republicans privately believe dozens of Republicans will vote for it, possibly 100 or more, according to five people granted anonymity to speak candidly. Democrats pushing the petition publicly predicted that Republicans would rush to support the measure once it hit the floor.”
Several Senate Republicans also said they would defect. Trump did not want to have to veto a bill on the release.
Trump’s tried to squelch an investigation. Instead, efforts to squash the vote piqued interest in the emails.
Epstein Files Transparency Act
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a proposed piece of legislation that would require the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with limited exceptions. The act specifically prohibits withholding information based on embarrassment or political sensitivity, but it does allow for redactions of personally identifiable information of victims, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and information that would jeopardize an active federal investigation. The act aims to ensure transparency and accountability by forcing the release of files including flight logs, travel records, and names of individuals involved.
Shifting Personal Relationship Narrative
- Early Acquaintance (1980s-early 2000s): Trump and Epstein moved in the same social circles in Manhattan and Palm Beach. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump was quoted as calling Epstein a “terrific guy”.
- The “Falling Out” (c. 2004): Trump claims he had a falling out with Epstein around 2004 and subsequently cut ties, saying he was “not a fan” and that he “kicked him out of his club for being a creep”. Emails released by the House Oversight Committee in November 2025 detail Epstein’s soured view of Trump post-split, with Epstein claiming Trump “knew about the girls”. Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
- Post-Arrest Comments (2019 onward): After Epstein’s 2019 arrest and subsequent death by suicide in jail, Trump distanced himself publicly, saying he hadn’t spoken to Epstein in 15 years. He also fueled conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death, at times suggesting it may have been a killing, and demanding a full investigation.
Changing Position on Releasing Files
Trump’s position on the release of the Justice Department’s files related to the Epstein investigation has been particularly contradictory:
- Campaign Promises (2024): During his 2024 campaign, Trump and his allies (including JD Vance) hinted they would release all of the Epstein files if elected, suggesting the documents would compromise powerful individuals.
- Resistance and Downplaying (Mid-2025): After taking office, his administration became reluctant to release all the files, frustrating some of his supporters and members of Congress. The Justice Department and FBI released a memo stating there was no evidence of a “secret client list,” which many of his supporters viewed as a betrayal. Trump subsequently dismissed the ongoing calls for transparency as a “Democratic Hoax” and “boring stuff”.
- Recent Reversal (November 2025): Faced with mounting pressure and a potential congressional vote to compel the release, Trump abruptly reversed his stance, urging House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files “because we have nothing to hide”. Simultaneously, he called on the Justice Department to investigate Bill Clinton and other high-profile figures mentioned in connection to Epstein.
Trump Was Right
- Trump was right years ago when he called Epstein a “terrific guy”.
- Trump was right in 2019 when he called for a full investigation.
- Trump was right in 2024 when he supported a release of documents.
- Trump was right in 2025 when he said the whole thing was a hoax.
- Trump is right now.
Q: Isn’t that a major set of changes?
A: No silly. He was right then, and then he was right then, and then he was right then, and now he is right now. Nothing has changed.
Q: But what about his position?
A: Don’t you understand English? Nothing has changed!
Trump Doesn’t Care
As I said on Friday night aboard Air Force One to the Fake News Media, House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat “Shutdown.” The Department of Justice has already turned over tens of thousands of pages to the Public on “Epstein,” are looking at various Democrat operatives (Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, Larry Summers, etc.) and their relationship to Epstein, and the House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to, I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT, which is the Economy, “Affordability” (where we are winning BIG!), our Victory on reducing Inflation from the highest level in History to practically nothing, bringing down prices for the American People, delivering Historic Tax Cuts, gaining Trillions of Dollars of Investment into America (A RECORD!), the rebuilding of our Military, securing our Border, deporting Criminal Illegal Aliens, ending Men in Women’s Sports, stopping Transgender for Everyone, and so much more! Nobody cared about Jeffrey Epstein when he was alive and, if the Democrats had anything, they would have released it before our Landslide Election Victory. Some “members” of the Republican Party are being “used,” and we can’t let that happen. Let’s start talking about the Republican Party’s Record Setting Achievements, and not fall into the Epstein “TRAP,” which is actually a curse on the Democrats, not us. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
More Epstein Q&A
Q: What did Trump mean when he said “the House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to“?
A: Hmmm.
Q: If this Epstein “TRAP” is actually a curse on the Democrats, why did this take so long?
A: Doesn’t anyone understand the sheer brilliance of 8-D Chess?
Expect to see a slow release, starting with anything incriminating any Democrats.
