House Republicans are Showing Cracks in Support of Epstein Files Release, Pushing Back Against Trump Administration's Handling of the Scandal.
A growing number of House Republicans have announced their intention to vote in favor of a bipartisan measure aimed at releasing long-held Justice Department files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution, proposed by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), has gained momentum since its initial proposal last summer.
The move comes as House Democrats recently released previously undisclosed emails related to the Epstein scandal, forcing some Republican lawmakers to take a stand on an issue that has become increasingly divisive within their own party. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) said he plans to vote next week in support of the bill and called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to explain her administration's handling of the case.
Davidson acknowledged the U.S. government's response to Epstein's revelations has been criticized compared to the actions taken by the UK, where Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles following a string of damaging allegations. "The Oversight Committee has pushed out a lot of disclosures... The U.K.'s trying to do some with Prince Andrew," Davidson said.
Other Republican lawmakers have also expressed their intention to vote in favor of releasing the files, including Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Rob Bresnahan (R-PA). Rep. Don Bacon (R-NB) stated that he supports the bill despite calling it "a false hope," expressing confidence in the House Oversight Committee's work on releasing the files.
Bacon said the Epstein scandal has become a self-inflicted wound for the Trump administration, with the President himself facing criticism over his handling of the situation. "I think they've dug themselves a hole... But in the end, I'm for transparency," he stated. The bill still needs to navigate its way through the Senate and be signed into law by the President before becoming reality.
Despite growing support among some Republicans, it remains to be seen whether the measure will ultimately pass or if lawmakers will continue to struggle with the complexities of releasing sensitive information related to high-profile cases like Epstein's.
A growing number of House Republicans have announced their intention to vote in favor of a bipartisan measure aimed at releasing long-held Justice Department files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution, proposed by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), has gained momentum since its initial proposal last summer.
The move comes as House Democrats recently released previously undisclosed emails related to the Epstein scandal, forcing some Republican lawmakers to take a stand on an issue that has become increasingly divisive within their own party. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) said he plans to vote next week in support of the bill and called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to explain her administration's handling of the case.
Davidson acknowledged the U.S. government's response to Epstein's revelations has been criticized compared to the actions taken by the UK, where Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles following a string of damaging allegations. "The Oversight Committee has pushed out a lot of disclosures... The U.K.'s trying to do some with Prince Andrew," Davidson said.
Other Republican lawmakers have also expressed their intention to vote in favor of releasing the files, including Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Rob Bresnahan (R-PA). Rep. Don Bacon (R-NB) stated that he supports the bill despite calling it "a false hope," expressing confidence in the House Oversight Committee's work on releasing the files.
Bacon said the Epstein scandal has become a self-inflicted wound for the Trump administration, with the President himself facing criticism over his handling of the situation. "I think they've dug themselves a hole... But in the end, I'm for transparency," he stated. The bill still needs to navigate its way through the Senate and be signed into law by the President before becoming reality.
Despite growing support among some Republicans, it remains to be seen whether the measure will ultimately pass or if lawmakers will continue to struggle with the complexities of releasing sensitive information related to high-profile cases like Epstein's.