US President Donald Trump is recommending that Republican lawmakers vote in the House of Representatives to release the documents in the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It is time to reveal the documents, “because we have nothing to hide“, he wrote in Truth Social.
So far, Trump has categorically opposed the disclosure of documents from the investigation into the case. However, opposition Democrats, but also some of Trump's Republicans, have been insisting on this for months, writes the German public media ARD.
Over 40 Republicans support the request?
Over the weekend, American media reported that support in the House of Representatives for opening the files was growing. There, Republicans have a majority of 219 to 214 seats. But there are members of Trump's party who clearly oppose the will of the American president on this matter and, together with the Democrats, support the initiative.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, one of the initiators of the petition to disclose the "Epstein" files, said on Sunday that he expects more than 40 Republicans to vote in favor of the request. This would embarrass Trump in the House of Representatives.
The speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, also spoke out in favor of releasing the documents, arguing that this would dispel doubts about Trump's involvement. So far, the American president has rejected such a possibility and defined the entire fuss on the topic as a smear campaign by the Democrats and even ordered the Justice Department to investigate the connections of prominent Democrats with Epstein, ARD recalls.
Greater resistance looms in the Senate
It remains unclear whether the documents will actually be made public. If the House of Representatives in the US Congress votes in favor of this, two more steps are needed: The Senate - the second chamber in Congress - must also give its consent. There, Republicans also have a majority and, according to American media, the request is expected to meet more serious resistance. In addition, the US president must certify with his signature that the Ministry of Justice can open the investigation files.
Speculation after Epstein's death
The influential American multimillionaire Epstein systematically abused underage girls and young women for years and provided them to other abusers. After his arrest and conviction as a criminal, Epstein died in 2019 at the age of 66 in prison. According to the autopsy, he committed suicide in his cell, ARD points out.
Epstein's sudden death and his wide contacts in American high society have sparked speculation that influential circles may be involved. Before his arrest, celebrities and billionaires often visited him, including Trump, who went to his parties, according to videos of these visits. There is extensive documentation on the case, of which only fragmentary information is known so far, ARD also points out.
During the election campaign, Trump promised to fully disclose the "Epstein" files. Since this promise has not been fulfilled since he took office in January, the president is under increasing pressure. The intra-party dispute on this issue among Republicans has recently intensified. For example, Trump broke with his long-time supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene because the far-right congresswoman advocated for the disclosure of the files.