Epstein files release Trump backs full transparency push

Trump reverses course on the Epstein files, backing a bipartisan push to release all records as tensions rise within the Republican Party and new emails renew scrutiny.

In a sharp break from his earlier position, US President Donald Trump has urged Congress to publicly release all remaining documents tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump announced his stance on Truth Social, insisting that “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.”

The reversal comes at a moment of growing political pressure, as a bipartisan coalition in the House pushes for the Epstein Files Transparency Act — a bill that would require the US Justice Department to unseal the documents within 30 days.

Bipartisan Momentum Builds Behind Transparency Bill

Democrats, joined by a small but growing bloc of Republicans, have now secured the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican co-sponsor, said as many as 100 GOP lawmakers may support the bill, though the Senate’s position remains uncertain.

Supporters argue that releasing the files is essential to restoring public trust and ending years of speculation surrounding Epstein’s network of high-profile associates.

Trump’s Rift With Marjorie Taylor Greene Intensifies

Trump’s announcement also deepens an escalating conflict with one of his former closest allies: Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Greene has become a vocal champion of the transparency bill, asserting that “the American people deserve full transparency into who was involved in these horrific acts.”

Their public fallout has accelerated in recent weeks. Trump has threatened to back a primary challenger against Greene and has labeled her a “traitor” and “ranting lunatic,” while Greene claims their split is tied to the debate over the Epstein files.

Emails Renew Scrutiny of Trump’s Epstein Ties

The political storm was fueled further by newly released emails from 2011 and 2019, in which Epstein claimed Trump “knew about the girls” and spent hours at his home with one of his victims.
The White House dismissed the emails as selectively released political attacks, accusing Democrats of creating a “fake narrative.”

Trump has repeatedly insisted he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, despite a long-documented 15-year social connection with him. His name has appeared in previously unsealed Justice Department files.

Trump Once Called Epstein Case a ‘Hoax’

The president’s reversal is notable because, as recently as July, he criticized those who questioned the government’s transparency regarding Epstein, calling it the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.”
At the time, Trump urged the FBI to investigate what he described as a conspiracy by political opponents to damage him.

He also publicly expressed confusion about the public’s interest in the case, calling it “sordid but boring.”

Epstein’s Network Continues to Cast a Long Shadow

Epstein’s death in 2019 while awaiting trial left a long trail of unanswered questions. His extensive social circle—including political leaders, billionaires, academics, and celebrities—has fueled years of speculation.
Even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, many high-profile figures continued their relationship with him.

Trump is now demanding investigations into his critics’ ties to Epstein, including Bill Clinton and former Harvard President Larry Summers — both of whom deny any criminal wrongdoing.