WASHINGTON — In a surprising reversal, U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he supports efforts in the House of Representatives to release more files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite previously opposing the measure.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The 79-year-old president’s comments mark a notable shift from his earlier stance, when he and his allies reportedly sought to delay or block the vote. Trump had accused Democrats of weaponizing the Epstein investigation against him, calling it an “Epstein hoax.”
Rift Within the Republican Party
The decision has created new divisions inside the Republican Party, particularly within Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Over the weekend, Trump withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 2026 re-election bid, signaling widening fractures among conservative lawmakers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed Sunday that a vote would be held this week to compel the Justice Department to release the remaining Epstein-related documents.
“Some members of the Republican Party are being used, and we can’t let that happen,” Trump posted, referring to GOP lawmakers who sided with Democrats on the disclosure push.
Leaked Emails Fuel Political Storm
The renewed attention on the Epstein case comes just days after Congress released a batch of emails recovered from Epstein’s estate, following the end of the recent U.S. government shutdown.
According to excerpts cited by the House Oversight Committee, the emails included one message in which Epstein claimed Trump “spent hours” with one of his victims, and another referring to the president as “dirty.”
Democratic lawmakers said the revelations “raise serious questions” about Trump’s past relationship with the disgraced financier, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking minors.
Trump Calls for Investigation — Into Clinton and Others
In response to the email release, Trump called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to open a probe into former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard University president Larry Summers, both of whom had known ties to Epstein.
That demand came despite a July Justice Department memo concluding there was no evidence warranting criminal investigations into uncharged third parties connected to Epstein.
Epstein, assisted by Ghislaine Maxwell, trafficked underage girls to his homes in Florida and New York, where they were sexually exploited under the guise of “massage sessions.” Maxwell was later convicted for her role in the network.
Although Trump once described Epstein as “a terrific guy” in a 2002 interview, he has since distanced himself, claiming he “had a falling out with him years ago.”
The president’s latest stance — embracing transparency — may appease portions of his base demanding full disclosure of Epstein’s “client list,” though it risks exposing new political vulnerabilities as the 2026 elections approach.
