Republican senators are calling on Donald Trump to declassify files related to Jeffrey Epstein, even if his own name pops up in them.
After Trump recently signed an executive order to declassify documents linked to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., some GOP lawmakers are now demanding he go a step further and make the Epstein files public too.
While Trump previously hinted he’d consider releasing them if re-elected, the Epstein documents were noticeably absent from his recent declassification order. And that’s raising eyebrows.
“First in line” to read them
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy (no relation to those Kennedys) is particularly keen to get his hands on the files. Speaking to The Bulwark, he said he couldn’t understand why Trump hadn’t already made them public.
“If I talk to him, I’ll ask him, but I’d like to see them. I’ll be the first in line [to read them],” he said.
Given Epstein’s ties to some of the world’s most powerful figures, including Trump himself, some have speculated that the former president is holding back because his own name might be in the documents.
Trump and Epstein were known to socialise in the early 2000s, with Trump even calling Epstein a “terrific guy” in a 2002 interview. However, following Epstein’s 2019 arrest for sex trafficking, Trump quickly distanced himself from the disgraced financier. Epstein later died in his jail cell while awaiting trial, with his death officially ruled a suicide.
Senators: Release them, no matter what
Despite Trump’s past connections to Epstein, Kennedy insists the files should be released—regardless of whether Trump is named in them.
“I don’t care if he’s named in them. The American people are entitled to know the truth. The man’s dead as Jimmy Hoffa – he’s gone – and his sidekick’s in jail,” he said, referring to Epstein’s long-time associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in, saying Trump should “absolutely” release the Epstein documents—before throwing in a curveball by adding, “and also the P Diddy files.” While it’s unclear what he meant by that, Cruz made his stance clear: “We deserve to know who is implicated in abusing children.”
Senator Steve Daines of Montana agreed, although he seemed to take a moment to think through the potential implications for Trump before eventually stating, “I think they should be released.”
Will we ever see the Epstein files?
While calls for transparency are growing, experts interviewed by NPR have poured cold water on expectations, suggesting that any potential declassification is unlikely to contain shocking new revelations.
Still, with Trump continuing his campaign to reclaim the White House, the pressure to release the Epstein files—whether for political gain or public interest—may only increase.
The question remains: will he, or won’t he?
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