Latest news with #EpsteinFilesTransparencyAct
Miami Herald
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
The Epstein case is uniting Americans and causing problems for Trump. Here's why
Politics makes strange bedfellows, and the Jeffrey Epstein case has created the most unlikely bipartisan coalition in recent memory. What began as a campaign promise to release Epstein's client list has metastasized into a full-scale political crisis that is now stress-testing President Donald Trump's relationship with his supporters and uniting both parties in a rare call for transparency. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a memo stating there wasn't a client list and Epstein killed himself. Rather than quieting concerns, these findings have ignited a fire storm of demands for transparency from people on both sides of the aisle. The Wall Street Journal has begun to report new details, including that Trump's name appeared in the files — a revelation the president has denied. Trump has sued the paper for libel for publishing an article detailing his ties to Epstein, including a racy birthday card Trump says he didn't write. Nevertheless, public pressure continues to mount. To be clear: Being named in the files does not mean Trump engaged in criminal activity. In these politically polarizing times, Republicans and Democrats rarely agree on anything. But some of them are now — and they're demanding answers. The Epstein case has temporarily erased partisan lines, forging political alliances to confront the same question: Is there a cover up? What some assumed would blow over after the July 11 memo has instead gained momentum. Headlines haven't stopped and the pressure campaign on Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump to release the Epstein files is mounting. But no matter how hard Trump tries to deflect or distract, he can't shake the public's demand that he release the files. And Congress has translated this battle cry into action. The House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, issued a subpoena for Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell to give a deposition at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee on Aug. 11. Meanwhile, Reps. Thomas Massie, R, Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, D-California, have introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a measure that would require Bondi to release all the documents relating to Epstein. As of Wednesday, 11 Republicans and 13 Democrats have signed onto the measure. Instead of allowing a vote, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly decided to adjourn the House a day early to avoid further problems for the president. But Massie isn't backing down. He plans to file a discharge petition to force a vote on the resolution in September when the House returns. This would require support from 218 members — 11 Republicans and the entire Democratic delegation (212 members). Discharge petitions are a rare procedural motion used to go around leadership. It is seldom successful, nor is it a go-to tool used by members of the majority. But this isn't politics as usual. It reflects a broader public sentiment. In a recent CBS/YouGov poll, 89% of Americans — including Democrats, Republicans and independents — think the DOJ should release the Epstein files. This is a remarkable level of agreement in today's divided political climate. The fact that pollsters are asking about Epstein confirms this isn't just relegated to the fringes of the internet. It's a mainstream demand for transparency. Even Trump's base is showing some cracks. Some supporters are expressing outrage over the perceived lack of transparency and think that Trump may be protecting a sex offender. Instead of trying to quell supporters' concerns, Trump has lashed out, calling critics 'weaklings' and saying he doesn't want their support anymore. The fracture highlights how Epstein's case has become a litmus test for institutional credibility that transcends political loyalty. The central question driving public outrage remains: Is the administration protecting a sex offender? The bipartisan demand for transparency in the Epstein case isn't just about one man's crimes. It's about whether America's justice system still applies equally to the powerful and the powerless. In an era of deep division, the demand for justice and protection of the innocent is proving to still have the power to unite Americans across party lines. Click here to send the letter.
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Republican rumblings: on Trump and the Epstein files
President Donald Trump, under pressure from a segment of his support base, has instructed his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to request a court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to sex offender and former friend of the President, Jeffrey Epstein. While Mr. Trump had vowed, even during his presidential campaign, to unveil the files, in recent days he has faced mounting pressure to supply all relevant and new information pertaining to the case. The latest turn in the murky saga relating to Mr. Trump's prior association with Epstein, the former financier who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, came after a report claimed that Mr. Trump, in 2003, sent a 'bawdy' birthday letter to Epstein with references to a shared 'secret'. Mr. Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against the newspaper and its publisher Rupert Murdoch. He went on to post, on the Truth Social platform, 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!'. Mr. Trump's publicity woes regarding Epstein have been compounded, however, not due to any action by Democrats, but the fact that far-right MAGA groups, including conspiracy theorists such as QAnon, who believe that the U.S. government, media, and financial worlds are controlled by elites associated with a global child sex trafficking operation, have been applying pressure on the administration within Republican circles. Even prior to the latest report linking Mr. Trump and Epstein, the President had said that some 'stupid Republicans... have fallen into the net' in asking for more information to be released. Now, it is possible that lawmakers in the House of Representatives will have the opportunity to vote on the decision to release the documents relating to the prosecution of Epstein, relying on a legislative mechanism known as a 'discharge petition'. A bipartisan team, led by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, has proposed this petition under the moniker of the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act', which, if it is passed with 218 signatures, could require the Attorney General to 'make publicly available ... all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice…' relating to Epstein. Mr. Trump may soon discover that while it helps his policy agenda to have a federal government trifecta and a sympathetic Supreme Court, his political prospects ultimately rest upon his support base, and it is one that is capable of abruptly turning the tide against him.
20-07-2025
- Politics
'This Week' Transcript 7-20-25: Rep. Tim Burchett & Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
A rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday, July 20, 2025 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors. For previous show transcripts, visit the "This Week" transcript archive. MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC 'THIS WEEK' ANCHOR: And our thanks to Rachel. I'm joined now by GOP Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who has called for more transparency in the Epstein case. Good morning, Congressman. You've co-sponsored the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would force the House to vote on whether or not to release all government files on Epstein. What exactly do you think the government is withholding here? REP. TIM BURCHETT, (R) TENNESSEE: Well, that's the million-dollar question, ma'am. I -- I applaud the president and Attorney General Bondi for -- for wanting to release the grand jury files. I believe that will pretty much cover everything. But I would give everybody a caveat or a -- that's a big word, but a warning that just because somebody flew on a plane doesn't mean they're a daggum pedophile, you know. I -- I'm -- I have a lot of wealthy friends. I -- I aspire to be wealthy, but I've taken a vow of poverty because of my daughter rides horses. So -- but I have a lot of wealthy friends, and they fly on people's planes. And their plane will be down, and they'll say, hey, we're going somewhere, and we've got an extra seat, do you want to go? And they don't even know the person on the plane. So, you know, that's -- that's one of the things I worry about too, because I -- you know, President Trump admitted that he flew on -- on his daggum plane. And -- and so, I worry about some innocent people. I worry about -- there's over 1,000 people that this dirtbag apparently offended. And currently, I believe the devil's dealing with him. RADDATZ: But -- but, Congressman -- BURCHETT: But I worry about some of those innocent names being out on that too as well. Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. RADDATZ: So -- so, Congressman, you think unsealing the grand jury records is enough for you now? BURCHETT: I think it's a start. I don't think we're ever going to get to the bottom of anything -- every -- all of it, ma'am. I mean, look at the Kennedy assassination. Do you actually believe Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy from the front and the back, and this magic bullet appears an hour later in a -- in -- on a hospital gurney and -- and in an emergency room. I -- you know, this town doesn't give up its secrets very easy. And I -- and I'd warn people too, now we're getting a hold of this stuff. What happened the last four years under the Biden administration? Senator Dick Durbin blocked my senator, Marsha Blackburn, who valiantly fought to get those records out and only -- and I could pretty much like it wasn't anything. And the media backed him up on it. And now all of a sudden the media thinks they've got something and it's -- it's -- I -- it's leveled towards Trump. But I -- you know, my history with this issues goes back a little way. I spent 16 years in the Tennessee General Assembly and I passed and attempted to pass some -- some of the toughest laws in the country, some of the first (INAUDIBLE) internet crimes against children. I've promoted the death penalty, chemical castration of child molesters and all those bills were ruled unconstitutional. RADDATZ: Congressman -- BURCHETT: Yes, ma'am. RADDATZ: Congressman, I -- I want to go back again. So, you no longer believe or -- or are demanding that all the Epstein files be released? BURCHETT: No, ma'am. I want them -- I want them released. But my warning is this, let's make sure that we're not releasing the names of some of these who -- who were then children, now adults, that were abused by this dirtbag, Epstein, and let's make sure we don't release things that are -- that have innocent names on them. That's my -- that's been my concern with -- with the original -- I thought they were dragging their feet. In the beginning, under the Biden administration, they never did anything. And now all of a sudden it's become a political issue. It's not a political issue with me, ma'am. I've held the hands of people that have been molested, and they carry a life sentence. I just want to make sure that -- RADDATZ: You've -- you've been very critical of -- I'm sorry. You -- you have been very critical of Pam Bondi during this. As the president said, he thinks she's handled it well. So, where is the disconnect there? And -- and do you think she should resign? BURCHETT: I think her communication with us early on was -- was not as goo. I mean that -- the binder, for instance, that she put out, I was very excited about that. But then I found the contents of it. I think it was her limited knowledge and her -- and taking advice from the wrong people, which you do a lot of in Washington. There's plenty of people to give you advice. But when it turns out not good, you turn around and they're nowhere to be found. And I think that's what she did in the beginning. I think if she turns the corner, I'll have -- I have a saying, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. If she finishes strong on this than I'm -- then I'm all for it. I'm sure the learning curve is steep and I -- I think she blundered in the beginning. I really do. As most Americans do. Because those -- that -- what those whites (ph) -- that-- that white notebook that those young folks, those influencers walk out with, I thought that was it. And then when I started digging into it, it was stuff that I -- and I'm -- I'm -- I'm a -- I like -- I like my postings on Twitter but -- or X, but that's about the limit of my computer knowledge, but even I could find those things on the internet that were already out there. So, I think they blundered in the beginning, but I think they're -- they're going to finish strong. Again, I -- I don't know that -- RADDATZ: Well, President Trump -- BURCHETT: Go ahead, ma'am. RADDATZ: Thank you. BURCHETT: Go ahead. I'm sorry. RADDATZ: President Trump has started claiming this is all a hoax, that it's being perpetrated by the Democrats. He says, some of his own supporters who he labeled stupid and foolish Republicans, you are obviously one of those people who wants this released. What's your reaction to how President Trump has handled it? BURCHETT: Well, yes, ma'am. I -- it's his strategy. I -- I -- you know, everybody questions President Trump's strategy. They said the big, beautiful bill wasn't going to get out (ph) on the Fourth of July. Trump comes out and says, I don't care when you put it out. I said, I don't care if you put it out on July 40th (ph), get the bill out. I just want it out. And what happened, daggum, we passed it on the Fourth of July. His cryptocurrency bill, my own Senator Haggerty had the Genius Act, part of that, and everybody said it was dead. It wasn't going anywhere. And there I am on a -- on a phone call. I'm in -- in a meeting with -- with the -- with -- with our speaker and our -- and our whip, Tom Emmert, and 10 or 12 fellow conservatives that had concerns about it. And who -- lo and behold, President Trump calls, answers all of our questions. And the bill passes. And he signed it on Friday. So, you know, I think to underestimate Donald J. Trump is -- is -- is -- is a mistake in this -- in this town. And I think we're learning that. And I -- I -- you know, that's his strategy. I -- was I a little ticked off he said that stuff? Sure, I was. But I'm a big boy, ma'am. I'm in the -- we're playing in the big leagues right now. And, you know, I get criticized every day. I get death threats on a pretty regular basis. So, my skin's about that thick right now. I think I can take a little criticism. But his strategy is -- RADDATZ: It sounds -- it sounds like you can.
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Biggest Allies Split With Him Over Jeffrey Epstein
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A number of President Donald Trump's biggest allies in the House of Representatives have split with him and called for the complete release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert - both major supporters of Trump - co-sponsored a discharge petition announced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna to force a vote in the House to release the complete files. The proposed act, called the Epstein Files Transparency Act, would mandate Attorney General Pam Bondi to make public all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials regarding Epstein that are in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) possession. It was co-sponsored by several other Republican representatives, including Tom Barrett, Cory Mills, Eric Burlison, Jeff Van Drew, Eli Crane and Tim Burchett. It was also sponsored by Democratic representative Rashida Tlaib. The petition requires 218 signatures to force House Speaker Mike Johnson to call a vote on the bill. It comes after Trump said earlier this week regarding Epstein: "I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don't... I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff, it's sordid, but it's boring. And I don't understand why it keeps going." But he added that Bondi should release any "credible information" that the DOJ has regarding him. President Donald Trump in the White House in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. President Donald Trump in the White House in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Evan Vucci/AP Photo This is a developing story. More to follow.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
'Weaklings': Trump lashes out at supporters over 'Jeffrey Epstein hoax'
Trump called supporters "weaklings" for their anger over his administration's handling of the Epstein case. President Donald Trump has a message for supporters upset with his handling of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein: They are "weaklings" who have been "duped" and he doesn't need them. Trump lashed out at conservative backers who have raised questions about his administration's handling of the Epstein case, slamming them in a July 16 social media post and again during an Oval Office event for furthering what he described as the "Jeffrey Epstein hoax." "And my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will," Trump said on social media, before calling them "weaklings" and declaring "I don't want their support anymore!" The comments are a remarkable rebuke to some of Trump's top supporters and key MAGA influencers, who have pushed back on his administration's attempt to close the book on Epstein after the president and some of his top officials ginned up expectations of blockbuster revelations. For months, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release new information about Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. New York's chief medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide, but some – including many Trump loyalists – have questioned that finding and whether the government is shielding Epstein's potential clients from public view. Then, on July 7, Bondi's Justice Department released a memo stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list,'" and "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." The memo also says there's no evidence that Epstein was murdered while in custody. The memo enflamed parts of Trump's base. "No one believes there is not a client list," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, a close Trump ally, posted on X July 8. Prominent Trump's allies are calling for the release of more Epstein records. "I'm for transparency," Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a July 15 interview with the Benny Johnson Show. "It's a very delicate subject," he added, "but we should put everything out there and let the people decide." Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein years ago, told reporters July 15 that he doesn't understand the "fascination" with the case. "It's sordid, but it's boring," Trump said. "And I don't understand why it keeps going. Really only bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going." Questions about the case continue to linger, though, with some conservatives. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, announced July 15 that he had filed a bill dubbed the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" that would force the complete release of all the government's Epstein documents. "We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes," Massie said in a statement. Greene announced July 16 that she is co-sponsoring the bill, declaring "I will never protect pedophiles or the elites and their circles." Trump praised Bondi's handling of the case July 16 during the Oval Office meeting, and complained about the pressure from the right. The president said he'd lost "a lot of faith in certain people... because they got duped." He described the focus on Epstein as a distraction from his administration's tax cuts, immigration agenda and other issues. "That's what you should be talking about," he said. Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Joey Garrison, Savannah Kuchar
