In a significant political shift, former President Donald Trump has publicly called on Republican lawmakers to support a bill demanding the full release of government documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
A Surprising Change of Stance
Using his Truth Social platform on Monday 17th November 2025, Mr Trump declared that politicians from his own party should back the move, stating "We have nothing to hide, and it's time to move on from this Democrat Hoax." This marks a stark reversal from his previous opposition to the release, which had previously provoked a vicious backlash from the president towards supporters of the move.
This call for transparency comes just a week after a committee released thousands of Epstein's documents, a few of which mentioned Mr Trump. One particular email described the former president as "that dog that hasn't barked" and referenced that "Virginia spent hours at my house with him." The White House has been quick to dismiss these, claiming the emails were selectively leaked to "create a fake narrative to smear President Trump."
Mounting Pressure and Political Divisions
The proposed bill is gaining substantial traction. It would force the Justice Department to release all files and communications on Epstein, as well as any information concerning his death in prison in 2019 – a topic that continues to fuel conspiracy theories. The legislation stipulates that information about victims or ongoing federal investigations would be redacted for their protection.
Pressure for a full disclosure has been intensifying, amplified by persistent rumours of a cover-up. A growing number of Republican lawmakers and loyal Trump supporters are now joining the call for the documents to be made public. This internal party dynamic was highlighted by the stance of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch MAGA loyalist, who backed the petition for a vote. Her support previously provoked Mr Trump to label her a "traitor" and a "ranting lunatic," illustrating the deep divisions this issue has caused within the party.
The Likely Path Forward
The bill's prospects in the House of Representatives appear strong. Democratic representative Ro Khanna, an original sponsor of the petition, said he expected around 40 Republicans to support the move. However, Republican Thomas Massie told US media that "100 or more" of his colleagues could vote for the bill.
With the Republicans currently holding 219 seats in the House against 214 for the Democrats, these numbers suggest the bill is likely to pass. The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, echoed the president's new tone, telling Fox News, "We'll just get this done and move it on. There's nothing to hide." Despite this momentum in the House, the ultimate fate of the bill in the Senate remains unclear.
