The next chapter in President Donald Trump’s Epstein saga is cracking open, and CNN reports the president is struggling to deal with it.
Trump is still calling the desire for complete transparency on the Epstein case a “Democrat hoax,” even though Republicans and many MAGA members of Trump’s base are the one’s demanding the release of the entirety of the files — and the names connected to the deceased sex-trafficker.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised a probe by the House Oversight Committee to “uncover things that have never been uncovered before,” but CNN reports critics expect his probe to produce carefully curated information that may protect Trump and other elites tangled in the Epstein web. Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have formed a loud bipartisan effort to bypass Johnson and leadership and force a floor vote on a bill to compel the complete release of the documents.
READ MORE: Busted: Susan Collins advanced Trump bill after receiving $2 million from billionaire
So far, three additional Republicans — all women — have signed on with Massie’s effort, including Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Nancy Mace (S.C.). But many House Republicans who were initially supportive of Massie’s legislation appear to be cowed by Trump and are now saying they won’t sign his petition, according to CNN, after the White House declared any support for the release to be “a very hostile act to the administration.”
If Massie gets his required 218 signatures, CNN reports Sen. Leader John Thune will be waiting to block his bill over in the Senate, telling reporters he’s “not sure what [the bill] achieves.”
The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for the full Epstein files, but will likely filter the information to the public. CNN reports a committee panel is also planning to hold a transcribed interview with Alexander Acosta, a former Labor Secretary during Trump’s first term who gave Epstein a sweetheart deal that excluded the brunt of his sex-trafficking-related crimes.
While the House churns, however, Epstein’s victims are continuing to stir up public noise that the president likely wants to go away. In a widely broadcast press event, victims requested a meeting with Trump. And the victims have compiled their own personal list of abusers worthy of separate investigations. Massie and Greene have said they are prepared to use constitutional protections to read the names aloud on the House floor.
READ MORE: 'Got somebody inside': Massie says new video proves Epstein list 'not a conspiracy theory
Read the full CNN report at this link.