Trump Reverses Course, Urges GOP to Vote for Release of Epstein Files

Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump encouraged House Republicans on Sunday night to vote in favor of releasing the Jeffrey Epstein case files, calling the controversy surrounding the records a “Democrat Hoax” and marking a significant reversal from his previous efforts to discredit the push.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated: “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown.’”

Trump’s sudden shift came amid growing expectations that a large number of GOP lawmakers would defy his earlier appeal and support the effort to force the Justice Department to release all of the Epstein case files. The vote is set to be forced this week after GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California gathered enough signatures on a discharge petition.

Both Massie and Khanna expressed confidence in the bill’s prospects earlier Sunday, citing increasing support within the House GOP. Massie predicted a large split with the former President, stating, “I think we could have a deluge of Republicans. There could be 100 or more. I’m hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote,” during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to align with Trump’s new message, telling “Fox News Sunday,” “We’ll just get this done and move it on. There’s nothing to hide.” This follows his previous characterization of the effort as a “moot point” due to an ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation that has already released thousands of Epstein documents. The move for a quick floor vote, expected Tuesday, follows the Oversight panel’s release of thousands of new Epstein emails last week.

Trump’s reversal comes shortly after he stated he would ask the Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures linked to the Democratic Party. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday she would launch the investigation, a move that critics feared could politicize the probe.

Earlier on Sunday, before Trump’s post, Massie had criticized the former President’s initial opposition, suggesting Trump was “trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends, billionaires, donors to his campaign, friends in his social circles.” Massie also advised his GOP colleagues that the “record of this vote will last longer” than Trump’s presidency.

The issue has also created a rift between Trump and former staunch ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who supports releasing the files. Greene lamented the fracture, telling CNN’s Dana Bash that the dispute “has all come down to the Epstein files” and questioning why Trump had fought the release, as she does not believe he is implicated.

While the House bill is widely expected to pass, its fate remains uncertain in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune previously expressed skepticism about the need for the legislation, citing the Justice Department’s prior release of case documents. Massie, however, expressed hope that Thune would “do the right thing,” believing that a strong House vote would create the necessary pressure.