Trump’s investigation into Epstein ties to political foes might be ‘smokescreen’, Republican says | Jeffrey Epstein

Republican congressman Thomas Massie challenged Donald Trump on Sunday over whether the US president was making a “last-ditch” effort to prevent the full files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from being made public by ordering a new investigation.

Massie and Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, two U.S. representatives who are leading a bipartisan push to make all government-held files public, raised new concerns about the White House’s recent actions.

We’re talking on ABC this weekMassie criticized Trump for ordering Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday to investigate Democrats with ties to Epstein.

This is despite emails released last week by the House oversight committee suggesting that Trump was aware of Epstein’s behavior and that Epstein also advised Steve Bannon, a key figure in Trump’s Make America Great Again (Maga) base.

“The president says it’s a hoax,” Massie said, referring to various claims Trump has made in response to repeated calls for the full release of the files. “He’s been saying that for months. Well, now he’s decided to investigate a hoax, if it’s a fraud. I also have another concern about these investigations that he’s announced. If investigations are ongoing in certain areas, those documents can’t be released.”

“So these investigations could be a huge smokescreen to open a bunch of investigations as a last resort to prevent the release of the Epstein files,” he added.

ABC host Jonathan Karl asked Massie what the Epstein records might contain and why Trump is afraid of what they might reveal.

“You know, I never said these files were going to incriminate Donald Trump,” Massie replied. “And I really don’t think they would. I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of his rich and powerful friends, billionaires, people who’ve donated to his campaign, friends in his social circle. That’s my theory about why he’s trying so hard to keep these files closed.”

Massie also said that when the House reaches the House for a vote this week, more than 100 House Republicans could vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files, currently held by the justice department, regarding the late financier and sex offender’s alleged crimes and alleged clients. He urged skeptics to rethink their position.

“I would like to remind my Republican colleagues who are deciding how to vote: Donald Trump can protect you in the red districts by endorsing you right now. But in 2030, he won’t be president, and if you don’t vote to release these files, you’ll be voting to protect pedophiles and the president can’t protect you then. This vote, the record of this vote, will last longer than Donald Trump’s presidency,” Massie said.

Khanna, of California, meanwhile, said moments later on NBC News’ Meet the Press that the effort “is not about Donald Trump” and encouraged the president to meet with victims who survived Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking ring and have since spoken out.

“What we want is justice for the survivors,” Khanna said. “So it’s not about Donald Trump. I don’t even know how involved Trump is in this. There’s a lot of other people who are involved in this and need to be held accountable.”

He also noted that many of the survivors who have spoken publicly about their abuse will be in Washington on Tuesday, where they plan to request a meeting with Trump.

While Epstein had previously served prison time in Florida for sex crimes after taking a plea deal in Florida in 2008, he killed himself in prison in New York in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial on sex crimes. His partner Ghislaine Maxwell is currently in prison.

Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said Sunday that he believes the upcoming vote will help put an end to allegations that the president had any connection to Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of underage girls.

“They’re doing this to push the theory that President Trump had something to do with this. He doesn’t,” Johnson said of the critics on his Fox News Sunday show.

“Epstein their [Democrats] “We’re going to change the whole game plan, so we’re going to take that weapon away from them,” Johnson said. “Let’s get this over with and move on. There’s nothing to hide.”

But the Senate is thought unlikely to provide the support needed to advance the legislation, and speaking on NBC on Sunday, Senate majority officer John Barrasso declined to commit to a vote on the pending bill even if it passes the House.

Georgia Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also demanded the release of all the Epstein documents, even though they caused a disagreement with Trump.