Trump Says House Republicans Should Vote To Release Epstein Files: 'we Have Nothing To Hide'

President Donald Trump connected Sunday called connected House Republicans to support nan merchandise of files related to nan precocious convicted activity offender Jeffrey Epstein, dramatically changing people connected a flashpoint rumor he has agelong opposed.

“House Republicans should ballot to merchandise nan Epstein files, because we person thing to hide, and it’s clip to move connected from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics successful bid to deflect from nan Great Success of nan Republican Party,” Trump wrote connected Truth Social.

Just past week, Trump had called nan efforts to merchandise nan files a “hoax,” saying Democrats were bringing them up to “deflect really severely they’ve done connected nan Shutdown.”

In nan post, Trump said nan Justice Department has already released “tens of thousands” of pages connected Epstein and noted his caller move directing nan Justice Department to analyse Epstein’s narration pinch notable Democrats specified arsenic erstwhile President Bill Clinton. Trump’s inquire came aft a tranche of emails mentioning figures connected some sides of nan aisle, including nan president himself.

A Clinton spokesperson told NBC News connected Friday that nan released emails “prove Bill Clinton did thing and knew nothing.”

“The remainder is sound meant to distract from predetermination losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else,” nan spokesperson said successful a connection Friday evening.

Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., past week reached capable signatures connected a discharge petition to unit a ballot connected nan measurement onto nan House floor. They picked up support from Trump allies, including Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. The petition besides sewage a signature from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who complete nan play had a falling-out pinch Trump, which Greene attributed to her defense for releasing nan Epstein files.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has opposed nan effort — but he said Wednesday he would bring nan measurement to nan level this week. To go law, nan measure would besides request to walk nan GOP-controlled Senate and summation Trump’s signature.

NBC News has reached retired to nan White House for remark connected Trump’s post.

Trump was friends pinch Epstein for years but said nan 2 had a "falling-out" — reportedly astir 2007. Epstein, who died by termination successful jailhouse successful 2019, has been astatine nan bosom of conspiracy theories astir his decease and criminal lawsuit — and galore successful Trump’s guidelines supported greater transparency surrounding nan disgraced financier. Trump pledged transparency connected nan run way and moreover appointed Kash Patel and Dan Bongino to nan apical 2 FBI roles — some of whom, earlier they joined nan management arsenic FBI head and lawman director, utilized their media platforms to qualify nan Epstein lawsuit arsenic portion of a cover-up to protect powerful people.

Trump has consistently denied immoderate wrongdoing successful relationship pinch Epstein's crimes.

The Epstein files person caused uproar among nan MAGA base, pinch nan president’s supporters this twelvemonth expressing outrage complete nan Trump administration’s determination not to merchandise immoderate much files.

The backlash led to nan eventual discharge petition led by Khanna and Massie. Soon after, Trump’s squad launched a group to unseat Massie. Since then, the president endorsed Massie’s challenger successful nan GOP primary.