Initially, House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted that former President Donald Trump acted as an FBI informant regarding Jeffrey Epstein. However, Johnson subsequently retracted this claim. Despite Trump’s statement about expelling Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, Trump has also dismissed the ongoing calls for further information on the Epstein case as a baseless “Democrat hoax.” This shows a change of tone.
President Donald Trump and his top political advisers are actively planning to oust Representative Thomas Massie, a frequent Republican adversary. House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, are signaling they will not intervene to protect Massie’s reelection bid. Trump is seeking a candidate to challenge Massie, as pro-Trump groups prepare to spend heavily in the Kentucky district. Despite the criticism, Massie remains confident in his chances, while acknowledging the challenge of his political life compared to the hardships faced by the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.
At a press conference on Wednesday, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, some of whom were teenagers when the abuse began, gathered to demand the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This act, introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, aims to compel the Justice Department and other agencies to release all files related to Epstein, regardless of the individuals who may be implicated. The survivors expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation, which has mostly released public documents. Despite potential resistance from some Republicans, including former President Trump who has since called the scandal a “hoax,” the survivors, along with several Republican representatives, are pushing for bipartisan support to ensure the files are released, and they are now determined to ensure accountability.
Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna are optimistic about forcing the Justice Department to release all unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein. They claim to have enough votes to compel a House vote on the matter, despite potential opposition in the Senate and concerns about the Justice Department scrubbing information. Khanna noted that the files have already been seen by government officials and Epstein accusers’ lawyers, making it more difficult to sanitize them. The push for release comes after the Justice Department stated it had not uncovered a list of Epstein’s clients, which sparked political debate.
In response to the Justice Department’s reluctance to release a list of individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein, a group of his victims, including the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, announced plans to independently compile and publish their own list. This decision follows growing frustration over the lack of transparency, despite the release of some documents that largely contained previously available information. Survivors have been gathering evidence, including emails and flight logs, and will move forward with their initiative if authorities continue to withhold crucial details. Bipartisan pressure is mounting on the Justice Department to release all unclassified records, but former President Donald Trump has dismissed the survivors’ demands as a “Democrat hoax.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim that Donald Trump acted as an FBI informant in the Jeffrey Epstein case has caused confusion among former Trump administration officials. These officials expressed bewilderment, unsure if Johnson was citing insider information or speaking extemporaneously. The claim, which has not been confirmed by the FBI or Trump himself, sparked a reaction from the public and media. Johnson’s comments emerged amidst calls for more information regarding Epstein’s associates and the release of related documents, including those sought by survivors and lawmakers.
Cleo Glyde, a former friend of Jeffrey Epstein, recounted to The Daily Beast Podcast an incident where Epstein attempted to impress Donald Trump by bringing her and a friend, dressed in white dresses, to Trump Tower. Glyde described feeling as though Epstein was showing them off to Trump. This encounter occurred when the group met and was greeted by a laughing Trump. The White House has since dismissed Glyde’s claims as a “hoax” amidst other allegations concerning Trump and Epstein’s relationship.
The Department of Justice is seeking to keep the names of two Jeffrey Epstein associates confidential after they received a combined $350,000 from him in 2018. NBC News filed a motion to unseal the names, but the DOJ is resisting, citing privacy concerns as the associates have objected to their names being released. The associates, described as “co-conspirators,” allegedly received the payments around the time of renewed scrutiny on Epstein’s past plea deal and were promised immunity from prosecution. Prosecutors suggest the payments may be evidence of efforts to influence witnesses.
The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to keep the names of two associates who received significant payments from Jeffrey Epstein in 2018 sealed, citing privacy concerns. These payments, totaling $100,000 and $250,000 respectively, were made shortly after the Miami Herald began publishing stories critical of Epstein’s 2008 plea deal. Prosecutors had previously argued the payments were evidence of efforts to influence potential witnesses, who were also given protection from prosecution in the plea agreement. NBC News requested the names be unsealed due to Epstein’s death and the closure of criminal proceedings, but the Justice Department is defending the associates’ privacy interests.
The Democratic Party is being accused of feigning concern for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims now, despite their past associations with him and lack of action before his death. This sudden interest, according to the article, is a political tactic used to distract from the Republican Party’s success and the Democrats’ low poll numbers. However, the article points out that this accusation is a projection, given Trump’s own documented relationship with Epstein and the fact that the release of Epstein-related information was advocated for by multiple figures within his administration, including his own Attorney General. Furthermore, Trump’s inaction during his own presidency, when he had the opportunity to pursue the case, is also highlighted.
John Q. Hosedrinker