US President Donald Trump said on Monday (Nov 17) that he would sign legislation requiring the release of Justice Department files on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein if it passes both the House and Senate.
“Of course I do,” Trump said from the Oval Office when asked by a reporter. “Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it. But don’t talk too much about it because frankly, I don’t want to take it away from us. It’s really a Democrat problem.”
A House vote is expected on Tuesday
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as Tuesday (November 18) to force the release of investigative files. Passage is widely expected after a discharge petition gathered the required 218 signatures last week, including four Republicans.
Admitting he had “nothing to do” with Epstein, Trump told lawmakers, “All I want is for people to recognize the great job that I’ve done. And I hate to see that detract from the great job that we’ve done. So I’m all for it.”
Trump reverses position under pressure from GOP
Up until the weekend, Trump actively lobbied against further release of DOJ files related to Epstein. The president’s shift follows growing Republican support for the measure, illustrating rare defiance.
The Epstein and Maxwell cases
Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy New York financier, was convicted on state and federal charges of sexually abusing and trafficking minors. He died in federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial, having decided to commit suicide. Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he ended his friendship with Epstein in 2000 and has denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files because we have nothing to hide,” Trump wrote on social media Sunday night.
Trump accuses political opponents of smear campaign
Trump has claimed that political opponents are trying to smear him by linking him to Epstein’s crimes. Emails released by a House committee suggested Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” though the White House says they contain no evidence of wrongdoing.
