In a striking shift from his earlier stance, US President Donald Trump has urged Republicans in Congress to vote in favor of releasing Justice Department files tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The unexpected reversal has intensified political tensions in Washington, shedding new light on long-standing suspicions, partisan accusations and internal party divisions.
Trump’s call came through a post on his Truth Social platform, where he insisted that Republicans “have nothing to hide” and should support full transparency. His comments followed remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who suggested that a vote to release the documents could help dispel persistent allegations linking Trump to Epstein’s history of abuse and trafficking involving underage girls.
A Sudden Shift Amid Mounting Pressure
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files,” Trump declared, accusing Democrats of using the controversy as a political weapon. He described the focus on Epstein as a “Democrat hoax perpetrated by radical left lunatics,” asserting that it was designed to distract from recent Republican legislative victories.
Though Trump and Epstein were photographed together decades ago, Trump has repeatedly claimed their relationship soured long before Epstein’s legal troubles. However, recently released emails from a House committee revealed that Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” though the meaning of the phrase remains unclear.
The debate over the files has opened rifts within conservative ranks. While Trump previously dismissed the demands as a smear campaign, he has now ordered the Department of Justice to investigate alleged ties between prominent Democrats and Epstein, intensifying the political fireworks surrounding the case.
Growing Divisions Inside the GOP
The controversy has also strained Trump’s alliances. He withdrew his support for Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene after disagreements over several issues, including the handling of the Epstein documents. Meanwhile, many of Trump’s most loyal supporters remain convinced that the government is concealing critical information about Epstein’s network and relationships with powerful figures before his 2019 jailhouse suicide.
As momentum grows for a congressional vote, bipartisan interest is increasing. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, one of the original sponsors of the petition for disclosure, said he expects more than 40 Republicans to join the effort. With Republicans holding a narrow 219–214 majority in the House, the vote could mark a rare moment of cross-party agreement.
The coming weeks will determine whether the political pressure, public curiosity and shifting allegiances are enough to finally force the release of long-sought documents that have fueled speculation for years.
