Politics

Trump Reverses Stance, Backs Release of Epstein Files Ahead of House Vote

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Nov 17, 2025

THE BARE STORY

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on a bill to compel the Department of Justice to release its full investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump, in a reversal of his previous opposition, announced over the weekend that he is now urging House Republicans to vote in favor of the measure. The vote was prompted by a petition that gained enough signatures in the House, following what some summaries described as months of resistance to the release from the Trump administration.

In a statement, the president called the issue a "Democrat Hoax" but said Republicans have "nothing to hide." He also accused the Democratic party of using the matter as a "strategic deflection," a claim attributed directly to him. His reversal followed a public dispute with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who supports the bill. The president reportedly called Greene a "Traitor" on social media after she accused him of trying to "scare" other Republicans on the issue.

The president’s change in position came after a House committee released subpoenaed emails last week. In one 2019 email, Epstein reportedly wrote that Trump "knew about the girls." The White House press secretary stated that released emails proved the president did nothing wrong, and Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein's sexual abuse. Summaries noted that documents previously made public do not contain allegations of wrongdoing by the president.

Concurrent with the political developments, an anti-trafficking organization released a video featuring 11 Epstein survivors calling for the files' release. The video’s message included the text, "Five administrations and we’re still in the dark." The survivors plan to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal child sex trafficking charges.

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• Survivors are demanding full transparency for justice. An anti-trafficking organization released a video showing 11 Epstein survivors calling for the full release of the investigative files. These survivors are also planning to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to amplify their message.

• The effort for disclosure has overcome significant resistance. The House vote was scheduled only after a petition gained enough signatures, following what some summaries described as "months of resistance" from the Trump administration. Additionally, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused the president of trying to "scare" other Republicans on the issue before he changed his position.

• The lack of information has persisted for decades. Advocates see the failure to release information as a long-term problem that extends beyond any single administration. The video featuring survivors included the message, "Five administrations and we’re still in the dark," highlighting a demand for accountability that they believe has been unaddressed for a long time.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The outcome of the House vote may set a precedent for congressional power to compel the release of sensitive Department of Justice files in the future.

• Release of the files could become a major political issue, influencing campaign messaging and voter perceptions of political figures and parties.

• Depending on what is revealed or withheld, the files' release could affect public trust in the federal government's handling of high-profile criminal investigations.

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