MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) has drawn plenty of criticism in opinion columns and op-eds published by MSNBC, many of which describe her as a far-right conspiracy theorist who is more interested in performative antics than in governance. But an op-ed published by MSNBC on September 9 is quite favorable to MTG, applauding her recent efforts on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein survivors.
In the op-ed, Ray Brescia — a law professor at Albany Law School in Upstate New York — argues that Greene has become an increasingly valuable advocate for Epstein survivors and the push to make U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) files on him public.
MTG joined Reps. Ro Khanna (D-California) and Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) at a bipartisan September 3 press conference on Capitol Hill, where survivors of Epstein's sex crimes spoke and the Georgia congressman vowed to keep fighting on their behalf.
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"Most GOP lawmakers are defending — or at least avoiding criticizing — the president amid the Epstein 'hoax,' as (President Donald) Trump continues to call it," Brescia explains. "Yet one of his most ardent supporters, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has said she will side with the survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking operation. And Greene can use one of the most powerful tools of her office to aid them. With calls to release the files from across the political spectrum growing louder and louder, the Department of Justice and Republicans in Congress have largely run interference for the president."
Brescia continues, "They've professed a commitment to justice for the survivors, but blocked any efforts at meaningful transparency. In July, Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home early for its summer recess to prevent more votes on proposals to require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files."
Khanna and Massie are trying to gather enough votes for a petition calling for DOJ to release all of its files on Epstein — and MTG has signed the petition even though Trump considers a signature a "hostile act."
"In the face of this stonewalling and threats," Brescia observes, "the survivors are speaking up more than ever…. If Epstein's victims also name names, they could quickly find themselves defendants in defamation suits, too. That's where Greene — and the Constitution — come in. Thanks to the 'speech and debate' clause in the Constitution, members of Congress have immunity for statements and acts carried out as part of their official duties, especially when they make statements within the legislative chambers or pursuant to their legitimate legislative powers…. That immunity allows Greene to say, as she did last week, that if the survivors 'want to give me a list, I will walk in that Capitol on the House floor and I'll say every damn name that abused these women. I can do that for them, and I’d be proud to do it.'"
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The Albany Law School professor adds, "Unlike the victims who might speak out, then, Greene, Massie and any federal legislator who wants to communicate the testimony of the victims would be completely immune from claims of defamation for their statements."
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Ray Brescia's full MSNBC op-ed is available at this link.