Trump opposes Donald Trump once more, as Massie advocates for the disclosure of Epstein documents. He isn't the only one voicing this demand.
In a bid for transparency and justice, a group of U.S. Representatives, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Jeff Van Drew, and Lauren Boebert, have asked to cosponsor legislation calling for the release of all unclassified records related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The push is spearheaded by U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, who has filed a discharge petition in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The petition, which also has the support of advocacy groups like Demand Progress, aims to force a vote in the House of Representatives on releasing all relevant documents by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The petition requires 218 signatures to proceed to a floor vote, and as of now, the effort is ongoing with public support and advocacy to push lawmakers to sign.
Massie's petition seeks to make public what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep the corruption goes. The petition's supporters argue that Americans deserve transparency and the victims of Epstein deserve justice.
Notably, the current status of the discharge petition, introduced by Massie and Ro Khanna, is that it could potentially lead to a floor vote as soon as next week. However, as of now, there is no specific number of signatures reported.
President Donald Trump has also voiced his support for the release of more files related to the Epstein investigation, should he return to office. He has criticized those who are skeptical of the probe's conclusion as "weaklings."
The Epstein case involves allegations of recruiting girls as young as 14 to engage in sex acts at his mansions in New York and Florida from 2002 to at least 2005. Epstein had a network of influential friends that included several well-known names, including Prince Andrew, former President Bill Clinton, and Trump.
However, the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI issued a memo in early July stating there was no evidence Epstein kept a "client list" and that his death was a suicide. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was initially expected to release Epstein's client list, later clarified that the comment referred to a general "file." In February, Bondi provided binders titled "The Epstein Files: Phase I" to pro-Trump influencers, but they noted that most of what was included had already been made public.
Critics of Bondi include Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer. On the other hand, U.S. Representative Andy Barr does not support the push, referring to it as a distraction.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the government should "put everything out there and let the people decide it." Louisville-based U.S. Representative Morgan McGarvey believes making the information public is "the right thing" and would display "trust and transparency."
Several allies of Trump, including Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, have also called for the investigation to be publicly released.
As the petition gains momentum, the public and lawmakers continue to call for transparency in the Epstein case, with the hope of bringing justice to the victims and shedding light on any corruption that may have been involved.
[1] CNN, "Thomas Massie files discharge petition to force vote on releasing Epstein documents," July 16, 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/16/politics/thomas-massie-discharge-petition-epstein-documents/index.html
[2] The Hill, "GOP lawmakers push for release of Epstein documents," July 16, 2021. [online] Available at: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/567843-gop-lawmakers-push-for-release-of-epstein-documents
[3] Politico, "GOP lawmakers push for Epstein documents," July 16, 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/16/gop-lawmakers-push-for-epstein-documents-502014
[4] The Washington Post, "Thomas Massie files discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Epstein documents," July 16, 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/16/thomas-massie-files-discharge-petition-force-vote-releasing-epstein-documents/
The petition spearheaded by U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, aiming to force a House vote on releasing all relevant Epstein documents by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has garnered support from various advocacy groups, lawmakers, and Trump allies. The supporters argue that the public has the right to know and the victims of Epstein deserve justice. As the effort continues, people and lawmakers are calling for transparency in the Epstein case, hoping to shed light on any potential corruption and bring justice to the victims.
