In a sharp shift from his earlier resistance, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he now supports efforts in the House of Representatives to release additional files connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision marks a dramatic turn in a controversy that has already strained alliances within Trump’s own political camp.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, writing, “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.” His statement comes despite previously opposing the measure, which had fueled speculation from critics who argued he was attempting to shield himself from damaging revelations.
The 79-year-old president has repeatedly dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing, accusing Democrats of fabricating what he calls an “Epstein hoax.” The accusations intensified after a set of recently released emails showed Epstein claiming that Trump “knew about the girls,” alongside another message referring to Trump as “dirty.”
The controversy has amplified tensions inside the Republican Party, creating an unusual divide within the MAGA movement. Over the weekend, Trump abruptly withdrew his endorsement of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 2026 re-election bid, signaling deepening fractures with some of his previously steadfast allies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that lawmakers will vote this week on whether to force the Justice Department to release the remaining Epstein-related files. Trump suggested that certain Republican members were being manipulated by Democrats, warning, “Some ‘members’ of the Republican Party are being ‘used,’ and we can’t let that happen.”
A Surge of New Documents Intensifies Scrutiny
The latest surge of attention follows the release of emails obtained from Epstein’s estate after last week’s end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The documents reveal new details about Epstein’s private communications, including claims that Trump spent extended time with one of Epstein’s victims. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the emails “raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes.”
In response, Trump demanded that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI investigate Epstein’s connections to former president Bill Clinton and ex-Harvard president Larry Summers, who served as Clinton’s treasury secretary. Both the FBI and the Justice Department had previously stated in a July memo that they found no basis to investigate uncharged individuals tied to Epstein.
The Lasting Shadow of Epstein’s Crimes
Epstein, with the assistance of his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, orchestrated a network of abuse involving underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida. Maxwell has since been convicted for her role in facilitating the trafficking scheme.
Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Authorities ruled his death a suicide, but conspiracy theories have persisted — especially within Trump’s support base. The Justice Department’s July 7 memo reaffirmed that Epstein acted alone and did not keep a “client list,” a conclusion that continues to fuel outrage among those who believe powerful figures were protected.
As Congress prepares for the upcoming vote, the push to unveil the remaining documents promises to intensify political tensions. Whether the release will settle longstanding questions or ignite new political battles remains to be seen.