Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump abruptly abandoned months of efforts to block the release of federal records tied to Jeffrey Epstein, reversing himself just as dozens of House Republicans appeared poised to defy him on a bipartisan bill to force the documents’ disclosure.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” Trump wrote Sunday night on Truth Social, dismissing the controversy as a “Democrat Hoax” and urging his party to “get BACK ON POINT” discussing inflation and the economy.
The about-face follows weeks of turmoil inside the House GOP, which has been consumed by internal pressure, White House lobbying and a widening revolt over the Epstein Records Disclosure Act — a measure that would compel the Justice Department to release its full investigative file. After leadership failed to keep the bill off the floor, a vote is now expected Tuesday.
As many as 100 Republicans are prepared to join Democrats, according to lawmakers and aides. Speaker Mike Johnson, who had worked alongside Trump to stall the legislation, has been unable to stop the defections.
“I’m a big full-disclosure person,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), the influential Rules Committee chair and a longtime Johnson ally. “I have nothing to hide, and I assume nobody else does, either.”
The issue escalated sharply last week after Democrats released an email in which Epstein suggested Trump “knew about the girls.” No evidence has linked Trump to wrongdoing, and he has repeatedly said he severed ties with Epstein years before the financier’s 2019 death.
Still, Trump and Johnson privately argued that a large bipartisan vote could create momentum in the Senate, potentially forcing Trump either to sign the bill or issue a politically costly veto. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer prodded Trump directly Sunday night: “Just release the files now.”
The political tension intensified as Trump publicly attacked Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who is leading the bipartisan discharge petition with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Trump also lashed out at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), once one of his closest allies, after she criticized his stance on Epstein.
Several Republicans said Trump’s fixation on the issue has unsettled even loyalists. One senior GOP aide described his efforts to block the vote — including summoning Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to the White House Situation Room to pressure her to withdraw her signature — as “erratic” and ultimately ineffective.
The White House pressure campaign also targeted Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a co-signer of the petition. Administration officials privately warned that her defiance could cost her Trump’s endorsement in the South Carolina governor’s race. Mace has not backed down.
Massie said the vote reflects a broader political shift. “They need to look past 2028 and wonder if they want this on their record,” he said. “If they’re thinking about the right thing to do, that’s pretty obvious: You vote for it.”
Support for the bill spans the GOP spectrum — from hard-right conservatives like Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) to moderates and swing-district members such as Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who is retiring.
“If it’s on the floor, I’ll be voting for it,” said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.).
Johnson insists Republicans have always backed “maximum transparency,” though he said he still opposes the bill because it does not sufficiently protect victims’ identities. Massie and Khanna call that argument a delay tactic.
With Democrats united and GOP support growing, the bill is expected to pass with a large bipartisan majority — a rare, significant rebellion inside a House Republican Conference that is typically locked in step with the president.
“People are sick of our system protecting the Epstein class,” Khanna said. “And they want the truth.”
