Overview
- House leaders expect a vote Tuesday on forcing broader release of Epstein-related records, with Rep. Thomas Massie projecting more than 100 Republican votes for disclosure.
- The latest tranche of materials includes private letters in which Epstein wrote that Trump “knew of the girls” and spent hours at his home, though some claims lack corroboration, including a 2017 Thanksgiving reference that conflicts with official records.
- Trump has denied wrongdoing, previously dismissed the matter as a Democratic hoax, and now says Republicans should publish the files because he has nothing to hide.
- The episode has deepened GOP rifts, with Marjorie Taylor Greene breaking from Trump and backing full transparency after he withdrew his endorsement of her.
- Despite a prior DOJ/FBI determination that broader probes lacked sufficient basis, Trump has directed attention toward investigations of other figures named in the materials, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman.