President Trump has suddenly changed his stance on releasing documents related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, urging Republicans in Congress to vote for its release. The unexpected reversal came after it became clear that Trump was likely to lose a previous vote on the issue.
Trump's shift is seen as a panicked attempt by the president to avoid losing the vote and prevent further scrutiny of his alleged ties to Epstein. This move has sparked outrage among Democrats, who accuse Trump of trying to conceal details about his relationship with Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee released a batch of new documents related to Epstein last week, which showed that the financier had told investigators that Trump "knew about the girls." The latest development comes as bipartisan support for releasing the full set of files has grown among House members, with at least 100 Republicans now expected to vote in favor.
Critics have accused Trump of trying to deflect attention from his own alleged involvement in Epstein's crimes by launching a new investigation into ties between prominent Democrats and the financier. However, Trump denies any wrongdoing and claims that he is simply looking to move on from the issue.
The White House has struggled to contain speculation within Trump's loyal base about potential cover-ups involving the wealthy elite, including those with whom Epstein associated. Despite Republican efforts to release documents related to Epstein, pressure has continued to grow for further disclosure from his estate and FBI investigation files.
The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill requiring the release of more Epstein files this week, possibly as early as Tuesday. Several survivors of Epstein's abuse have appeared in a public service announcement urging lawmakers to support the bill, citing their desire for justice and transparency.
The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. However, Trump's decision to urge his fellow Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files has heightened pressure on lawmakers to act.
Trump's shift is seen as a panicked attempt by the president to avoid losing the vote and prevent further scrutiny of his alleged ties to Epstein. This move has sparked outrage among Democrats, who accuse Trump of trying to conceal details about his relationship with Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee released a batch of new documents related to Epstein last week, which showed that the financier had told investigators that Trump "knew about the girls." The latest development comes as bipartisan support for releasing the full set of files has grown among House members, with at least 100 Republicans now expected to vote in favor.
Critics have accused Trump of trying to deflect attention from his own alleged involvement in Epstein's crimes by launching a new investigation into ties between prominent Democrats and the financier. However, Trump denies any wrongdoing and claims that he is simply looking to move on from the issue.
The White House has struggled to contain speculation within Trump's loyal base about potential cover-ups involving the wealthy elite, including those with whom Epstein associated. Despite Republican efforts to release documents related to Epstein, pressure has continued to grow for further disclosure from his estate and FBI investigation files.
The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill requiring the release of more Epstein files this week, possibly as early as Tuesday. Several survivors of Epstein's abuse have appeared in a public service announcement urging lawmakers to support the bill, citing their desire for justice and transparency.
The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. However, Trump's decision to urge his fellow Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files has heightened pressure on lawmakers to act.