Former President Donald Trump has ignited fresh controversy by suggesting that federal officials may have inserted new material into the Jeffrey Epstein case files since the 2024 election. The claims emerged during an impromptu press briefing aboard Air Force One on Friday evening, adding fuel to existing conspiracy theories as Washington prepares for a pivotal congressional vote.
Trump's Election Timing Argument
Speaking to reporters, Trump questioned why any damaging information hadn't surfaced earlier if it were legitimate. "If they had anything, they would have used it before the election, okay? I can't tell you what they put in since the [2024] election," the president stated, directly implying that federal officials could have manipulated the document trove after his return to the White House.
These remarks arrive amid an intensifying political battle on Capitol Hill, where both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are pushing to compel the Justice Department to release every document connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump's comments have introduced new uncertainty into an already volatile debate, particularly as he faces renewed scrutiny over his past association with Epstein.
Congressional Rebellion Gains Momentum
The political drama unfolded as House lawmakers, including a significant number of Republicans, prepared to defy both Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson by supporting legislation that would force full disclosure of Epstein records. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the discharge petition with California Democrat Ro Khanna, predicted that "there could be 100 or more" Republican votes in favour of the measure.
Massie openly signalled a rebellion against his own party's leadership, warning that Johnson, Trump and others "would be taking a big loss this week." He cautioned colleagues fearful of losing Trump's endorsement that voting against disclosure would leave a permanent mark on their political careers, stating that "the record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump's presidency."
Speaker Johnson, who had previously dismissed the petition as a "little gambit," struck a resigned tone as support grew. "We'll just get this done and move it on. There's nothing to hide," he conceded.
Democrats Accuse Leadership of Stalling Tactics
Democrats have accused Johnson of employing delaying tactics earlier in the year, specifically by postponing the seating of Representative Adelita Grijalva to prevent her from becoming the crucial 218th signature needed for the petition. In a dramatic turn, Grijalva signed the document moments after being sworn into office.
The upcoming vote promises to be one of the most dramatic of the year, driven in part by newly revealed documents including a 2019 email from Epstein claiming that Trump "knew about the girls." The White House has labelled this a "selective leak" designed to damage the president.
Representative Khanna acknowledged he didn't know "how involved Trump was" but insisted that "a lot of other people" must be held accountable. He urged Trump to meet with abuse survivors who will be present at the Capitol during the proceedings.
Despite suggesting during his campaign that he would seek to open government case files on Epstein, Trump has recently changed course, blaming Democrats and characterising the document-release push as a "Democrat hoax." On social media, he intensified these claims, posting: "This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam," while insisting the "Epstein Hoax" was specifically targeted against him.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has taken significant steps in response to presidential demands. At Trump's urging, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed she ordered US Attorney Jay Clayton to investigate Epstein's connections to Trump's political rivals, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman. None of these individuals have been accused of misconduct by Epstein's victims.
When questioned about whether a president should direct such investigations, Trump defended his actions, stating: "I'm the chief law enforcement officer of the country. I'm allowed to do it."
The controversy surrounding Trump's relationship with Epstein, once fixtures in Palm Beach and New York social circles, continues to shadow his presidency despite no accusations of wrongdoing from Epstein's victims. Trump's name appears in records released by his own Justice Department in February, alongside numerous other political and celebrity figures.
Clinton's office responded to the latest email revelations by dismissing allegations outright, while Hoffman demanded Trump release every file, characterising suggestions of his involvement as "political persecution and slander." Summers expressed "great regrets" over ever associating with Epstein.
Financial institution JPMorgan Chase, which maintained Epstein as a client for years, stated it "regretted associating" with him and has paid millions in settlements to victims.
