Major Epstein files breakthrough hours after Trump hit out at ‘Democrat hoax’ | World | News
Applause erupted Tuesday evening as the House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation ordering the U.S. Department of Justice to publicly release all its files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill was passed overwhelmingly and arrived shortly after Donald Trump He repeated his claim that the release of the documents was a “Democrat hoax.”
The US President had been opposing the release of the Epstein files for months, but changed his mind on Monday, saying he would sign the bill. The vote in representatives took place around 19:00 GMT, and a two-thirds majority was required for the bill to pass. It was passed with 427 votes in favor and only one vote against.
The bill would then need to pass the Senate and then be signed by Mr. Trump.
Financier Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.
Trump loyalist and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, standing next to some of the abuse victims outside the Capitol on Tuesday morning, said: “These women fought the most terrible fight that no woman should ever have to fight. And they did it by coming together and never giving up.”
“We did that today by fighting so hard against the most powerful people in the world, even the president of the United States, to make this vote happen.”
A separate investigation by the House Oversight Committee released thousands of pages of emails and other documents from Epstein’s estate showing his connections to global leaders, Wall Street power brokers, influential political figures and Trump himself.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse who have pressed for greater accountability have cast the current effort in Congress as a step toward accountability for Epstein’s crimes after years of government failure under multiple presidential administrations.
Mr. Trump said he cut ties with Epstein years ago but tried to dodge demands for explanation for months.
He told reporters on Monday that Epstein had connections to more Democrats and that he did not want the Epstein files to “overshadow the great success of the Republican Party.”
However, many Republicans continued to demand the release of the files.
Jena-Lisa Jones, one of the survivors who gathered outside the Capitol, said she voted for Mr. Trump and said in a message to herself: “I implore Donald Trump, please stop politicizing this.”
About an hour before the vote, Mr. Trump reiterated that he had “nothing to do” with Epstein.
In response to a journalist’s question, he said: “I kicked him out of my club years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert and I think I’ll be right.”
He said he had “never” been to Epstein’s island either.
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