Former President Backs Public Release of Epstein Records

Published: 17 November 2025 Monday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In a dramatic shift on Sunday night, former US President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the full trove of documents related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, reversing his earlier stance on the matter.

“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social shortly after returning from a weekend in Florida to Joint Base Andrews. The statement came amid mounting pressure from both Democrats and fellow Republicans for transparency regarding the controversial files, which detail alleged connections between Epstein and numerous high-profile figures.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on legislation that would compel the Justice Department to make the Epstein files publicly available. Known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the bill seeks the disclosure of all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019. With supporters claiming the legislation has enough backing to pass the House, attention now turns to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Should the bill clear both chambers, Trump, as President, would also have to approve the release.

The move reflects a significant pivot from Trump’s previous posture on Epstein-related documents. For months, Trump and some of his allies had resisted calls for transparency, casting scrutiny on the files as part of a broader Democratic effort to target him. Trump’s sudden embrace of the files’ release appears driven by both political calculation and increasing bipartisan momentum in favor of disclosure.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the bill, told ABC News that “as many as 100 GOP members could vote in favor,” underscoring the growing likelihood of the legislation passing in the House. Massie and other supporters contend that the public has a right to see the full extent of Epstein’s dealings, including any connections to powerful figures across the political spectrum.

Trump’s Truth Social post highlighted that the Department of Justice had already provided “tens of thousands of pages to the public on Epstein,” while investigations continued into alleged links between Epstein and high-profile individuals, including former President Bill Clinton, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. He stressed that the House Oversight Committee should have access to any materials they are legally entitled to, emphasizing: “I DON’T CARE! Back on point, Republicans!”

The references to Clinton and other Democrats come as the Justice Department investigates whether Epstein leveraged connections with political and financial elites for criminal purposes. Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor, stated in 2023 that he had no client relationship with Epstein and only had limited engagement for fundraising purposes for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Summers, for his part, expressed regret over any interactions with Epstein following the financier’s conviction.

Trump pledged that he would direct Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to scrutinize Epstein’s connections with Clinton and others, a move seen by many as an attempt to deflect scrutiny from himself while simultaneously bolstering claims of transparency. Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, maintaining that he was unaware of the sex trafficking and abuse schemes perpetrated by the late financier.

The timing of Trump’s reversal follows a recent flurry of disclosures by the House Oversight Committee. Last week, Democrats released three email exchanges between Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Some of the emails mentioned Trump, fueling speculation and prompting Republican lawmakers to release a broader tranche of approximately 20,000 files to counter what they described as a selective narrative aimed at vilifying the former president.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly indicated that a full vote on releasing the Epstein files could settle lingering questions about Trump’s connections to the late financier. In his Sunday night post, Trump echoed the sentiment, dismissing claims linking him to Epstein’s crimes as a Democrat-led “hoax.”

The Epstein files have also been a source of public tension between Trump and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Once one of his staunchest allies, Greene has criticised Trump for his handling of the documents, questioning whether he remains committed to his “America First” agenda. Trump, in turn, has publicly denounced Greene, calling her “wacky” and even labeling her a “traitor” in recent social media posts.

Amid the political maneuvering, survivors of Epstein’s crimes and the family of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, have actively lobbied Congress to support full disclosure. In a letter addressed to lawmakers, they urged officials to consider the human impact of their vote. “Remember that your primary duty is to your constituents. Look into the eyes of your children, your sisters, your mothers, and your aunts,” the letter read. “Imagine if they had been preyed upon. Imagine if you yourself were a survivor. What would you want for them? What would you want for yourself? When you vote, we will remember your decision at the ballot box.”

For decades, Epstein maintained a network of wealthy and influential associates, using his social and financial connections to perpetrate abuse and evade full accountability. The Epstein Files Transparency Act aims to shed light on these relationships and ensure that future generations have access to the complete record.

Trump’s sudden embrace of the file release also comes amid growing evidence that bipartisan pressure is influencing political calculations. Democrats on the Oversight Committee have argued that selective releases of emails and documents create misleading narratives and that a full disclosure would serve both transparency and justice. Meanwhile, key Republicans, despite concerns over political fallout, appear increasingly willing to break ranks, with multiple sources suggesting significant support for the measure.

Analysts note that Trump’s reversal may also serve to deflect criticism from ongoing investigations and partisan attacks. By endorsing the public release of the files, Trump positions himself as a proponent of transparency, potentially undermining Democratic leverage in forthcoming hearings and media coverage. However, some observers warn that the sudden shift could also expose Trump to renewed scrutiny, especially as attention turns to the names contained in the files and their relevance to political and financial elites.

The House vote, expected this week, could mark a watershed moment in the long-running Epstein saga. If passed, it would ensure that the public gains unprecedented access to information about Epstein’s activities, his network of associates, and the extent of complicity or negligence among political, business, and social elites. The bill would also provide survivors with a measure of accountability and potentially expose systemic failures in law enforcement and oversight that allowed Epstein to operate with impunity for years.

For Trump, the move may serve multiple political objectives: deflecting attention from his own name appearing in some correspondence, demonstrating responsiveness to calls for transparency, and reshaping the public narrative surrounding his administration’s stance on high-profile criminal investigations. The implications of the House vote are far-reaching, extending beyond politics into questions of accountability, legal responsibility, and public trust in governmental institutions.

As lawmakers prepare for the critical vote, the spotlight remains on the interplay between partisan politics and the pursuit of justice. With survivors, political leaders, and the American public all watching, the decision to release the Epstein files could redefine public understanding of one of the most notorious criminal networks in recent history.

The coming days will determine whether transparency prevails, and whether political divisions give way to accountability for victims of Jeffrey Epstein. For Trump and House Republicans, the vote represents both a political and moral reckoning—one that may shape public perception and political alliances for years to come.