Former President Donald Trump is exerting intense pressure on congressional Republicans to block the full release of the Justice Department's files concerning the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This lobbying push comes just before a critical and long-awaited House vote scheduled for next week, where dozens of Republicans are expected to support the disclosure.
The Push for Transparency and Political Resistance
The momentum for releasing the documents reached a pivotal moment with the belated swearing-in of Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson had delayed this for nearly two months during the government shutdown. Her induction provided the crucial 218th signature on a discharge petition, championed by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna. This petition forces a floor vote on legislation that would mandate the Department of Justice to release all its investigative files on Epstein within a 30-day window.
It is anticipated that a significant number of Republicans will vote in favour of the bill, acknowledging the strong public demand for transparency regarding the Epstein affair. Representatives such as Don Bacon of Nebraska, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, and Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania have publicly stated their intention to support the release.
Direct Lobbying from the White House
In response, Trump's camp has initiated a forceful counter-campaign. According to reports, Representative Lauren Boebert, one of only four House Republicans who signed the petition, was summoned to a meeting in the White House Situation Room. The meeting included former Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, aiming to discuss her stance on the files. Trump himself telephoned Boebert early Tuesday morning, just a day before Grijalva's swearing-in secured the final necessary signature.
The pressure extended to Representative Nancy Mace, another Republican signatory. Although Trump attempted to contact her, they did not connect. Instead, Mace reportedly sent the former president a lengthy letter detailing her personal experience as a survivor of sexual abuse and rape, explaining why she could not alter her position. She later affirmed on social media platform X that "the Epstein petition is deeply personal."
Damning Emails and a Political Firestorm
These White House lobbying efforts unfolded as Democrats on the House oversight committee released three new, incriminating emails. These documents suggest Trump was aware of Epstein's criminal activities. One email, reportedly from Epstein, stated "of course [Trump] knew about the girls". Another described Trump as a "dog that hasn't barked" and claimed he had "spent hours" with one victim at Epstein's residence.
Trump's team retaliated, accusing Democrats of cherry-picking documents. Republican representatives subsequently released a much larger cache of over 20,000 files. Among these were records indicating that Epstein's staff kept him informed about Trump's air travel and that the sex trafficker continued to follow news about his former friend long after their relationship had deteriorated.
Despite the upcoming House vote, the bill's path remains uncertain. To become law, it must also pass the Senate and receive the president's signature. Senate leaders have given no indication they will bring it to a vote, and Trump, who previously promised on the campaign trail to release the files, has now denounced the effort as a "Democrat hoax". The Justice Department had earlier this year announced it would not release further details about the case, fuelling public demand for full transparency into the Epstein investigation.
