The president’s endorsement represents a notable reversal. For several months, Trump had opposed the effort and, according to people familiar with the matter, recently attempted to persuade Representative Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado, to withhold her support for a discharge petition that would force a House floor vote. On Sunday, however, Trump posted on his social platform urging House Republicans to vote “yes.”
Even if the House passes the measure, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Majority Leader John Thune has not committed to scheduling a vote, and Majority Whip John Barrasso said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the chamber would “take a look” at any legislation sent over. “We want transparency and accountability,” Barrasso said, while noting that Epstein “is a convicted sex offender and he is dead.”
Parallel to the legislative push, the Justice Department has opened a new investigation at Trump’s request into Epstein’s connections with prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton. The expanded inquiry follows a July memorandum from the DOJ and FBI indicating that no additional public disclosures were planned and that investigators had found no basis to pursue charges against unindicted individuals.
Last week, House Democrats released emails from the Epstein estate referencing Trump. In a 2011 message, Epstein reportedly called Trump “the dog that hasn’t barked” and told Ghislaine Maxwell that an alleged victim had “spent hours at my house” with Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the messages, saying they “prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
Trump acknowledged providing “tens of thousands of documents” to congressional committees and labeled the renewed attention on Epstein a “hoax,” likening it to past investigations he has criticized. “Many of the people that we mentioned are being looked at very seriously for their relationship to Jeffrey Epstein, but they were with him all the time. I wasn’t,” he told reporters.
Imagem: Internet
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed reservations about the current bill, emphasizing concerns over protecting victims who do not wish to be publicly identified. Johnson said he has spoken with Trump “quite a bit” about the legislation and that the president “has nothing to hide.” Johnson argued that the discharge petition might not adequately shield survivors’ identities.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer countered that the president could act immediately. “He could end all the problems instead of just telling the House to vote for it. Release them. Release them now,” Schumer told reporters in Saratoga, New York.
Epstein, a financier convicted of sex crimes in 2008, was arrested again in 2019 on federal trafficking charges. He died by suicide two months later in a Manhattan federal detention center, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office. His death intensified scrutiny of his relationships with high-profile figures across politics, finance and entertainment. A comprehensive overview of Epstein’s legal history is available from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Under the proposed bill, the attorney general would have a fixed deadline—reportedly 90 days after enactment—to disclose unredacted investigative files, although personal identifying information of victims could be withheld. Lawmakers supporting the measure argue that full transparency is essential to determine whether influential individuals received preferential treatment. Opponents caution that premature or unrestricted release might violate privacy rights and jeopardize ongoing inquiries.
Monday’s Oval Office comments concluded a day of rapid developments, with Trump reiterating that the matter is a “Democrat problem” and urging journalists not to “talk about it too much.” Congressional leaders are expected to continue negotiations over protective language for victims as the House prepares for Tuesday’s vote, setting up a potential confrontation with the Senate over timing and scope.
Crédito da imagem: Evan Vucci/AP
