Former President Donald Trump said this week that House Republicans should vote to release the Justice Department’s investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, weighing in publicly as Congress prepares for a high-profile vote.
Trump’s comments come amid growing bipartisan momentum in the House to force the release of documents related to Epstein’s trafficking network, associates, and the federal investigation that followed his 2019 death in custody.
A bipartisan discharge petition, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), recently reached the 218 signatures required to bring the bill directly to the House floor. Dozens of Republicans are expected to support it.
Trump’s call for declassification marks a significant moment in the debate, following earlier reports suggesting he had privately urged several GOP lawmakers to oppose the measure. His public statement aligns with voters who have pushed for greater transparency in the long-running case.
Read More: Trump Pressures Republicans to Block Release of Epstein Investigation Files Ahead of House Vote
If approved, the legislation would give the Department of Justice 30 days to release the files, unless specific redactions are required for ongoing investigations or legal restrictions.
The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain, and even if it passes the House, Senate leadership has not signaled whether it will schedule a vote.
More updates are expected as House leaders finalize the timing of the floor debate and prepare for a vote in the coming days.
