Overview

• President Trump called GOP lawmakers “stupid” and “foolish” for pressing to unseal Justice Department and FBI files on Jeffrey Epstein, dismissing their concerns as a “big hoax.”
• Rep. Tim Burchett said he was “ticked off” by the president’s name-calling but described it as a deliberate tactic to blunt scrutiny of the Epstein files.
• Bondi has teased the release of grand jury materials and an alleged client list but has delivered no new documents to Congress or the public.
• Following Trump’s directive, some Republican members have ceased their inquiries while others continue to insist on full disclosure of the records.
• The standoff exposes deep divisions within the GOP over transparency, accountability and support for victims of Epstein’s crimes.