Republicans Defy Trump, Push for Epstein Files Transparency

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a near-unanimous bill to release Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation, marking a rare Republican break with President Donald Trump. The vote, which saw over 100 GOP lawmakers defy Trump's opposition, comes amid growing public scrutiny of the late financier's connections to prominent figures, including reveals that Epstein hosted cryptocurrency discussions with high-profile associates such as Brock Pierce and Larry Summers.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Trump hours after the House vote, mandates the DOJ to disclose all unclassified records within 30 days, barring redactions for victim privacy or ongoing investigations. Trump, which had previously dismissed the effort as a "hoax," reversed course after facing pressure from his base and lawmakers like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who argued the public deserved transparency. "There could be 100 or more" Republican votes, Massie predicted, framing the issue as a choice between constituent trust and political loyalty to the president.

The bill's passage follows the release of emails showing Epstein discussing Trump in 2019, including a message where the financier wrote that Trump "knew about the girls." While Trump has denied wrongdoing, the White House accused Democrats of selectively leaking documents to "smear" the president. Meanwhile, new details from Epstein's estate reveal he hosted a 2015 meeting at his Manhattan townhouse where Tether co-founder Brock Pierce and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers discussed Bitcoin's potential and risks.

The cryptocurrency connection, first reported by Decrypt and Cryptopotato, highlights how Epstein leveraged his network to bridge traditional finance and emerging tech. Pierce, then a leading Bitcoin advocate, described himself as the "most active investor" in the asset, while Summers expressed concerns about reputational risks from volatile price swings. The meeting occurred after Epstein's 2008 conviction and coincided with his Mindshift scientific conference in the Virgin Islands, where he mingled with figures like PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

The revelations add complexity to the broader Epstein investigation, which has already implicated Trump's name in DOJ records and exposed a web of political and celebrity associations. While no criminal charges have been filed against Trump, House Oversight Committee documents show Epstein referred to the president as "dopey Donald" in internal emails and speculated about leveraging their relationship for "generating a debt".

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a key Trump ally, defended the push for transparency, stating, "I believe the country deserves transparency in these files," even as she faced criticism for her role in escalating tensions with the president. The vote also drew attention to Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose campaign was alleged to have sought donations from Epstein in 2013, per House Oversight Chairman James Comer.

With the DOJ now compelled to release its files, questions remain about what, if anything, will emerge to substantiate Epstein's cryptic claims about Trump. For now, the bill's passage underscores a shifting political landscape where even the most entrenched alliances can fracture under the weight of public demand for accountability.