The White House is responding forcefully after House Democrats released a series of previously undisclosed documents connecting former President Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting accusations of bad faith. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced the release as an attempt by Democrats to ‘create a fake narrative to smear President Trump.’ The documents include a 2011 email from Epstein to his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which referenced Trump’s prolonged time at Epstein’s home with an unnamed ‘victim,’ suggesting an intimate relationship that Trump has repeatedly denied. Leavitt claimed the ‘unnamed victim’ in question was Virginia Giuffre, stating that Trump had no involvement in Epstein’s activities and that he had even kicked Epstein out of his club for inappropriate behavior.
Democrats, including Rep. Robert Garcia, argue the release highlights the need for full transparency and justice for Epstein’s victims. Garcia emphasized that the more Trump attempts to obscure the truth, the more evidence emerges, urging the Department of Justice to release all relevant information immediately. Additionally, the release of these documents comes as the House prepares to consider a discharge petition to compel the DOJ to release all Epstein-related records, with Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva expected to provide the final signature needed to push the petition forward. Meanwhile, Republicans have criticized the Democrats’ actions, accusing them of cherry-picking documents to generate clickbait and politicize the investigation. The White House has not responded to direct inquiries about the latest developments, as it continues to frame the episode as a distraction from the government’s reopening after its longest shutdown in history.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019, ruled a suicide by the FBI, left many questions unanswered about his connections with powerful figures, including Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. The ongoing demand for full transparency into Epstein’s dealings underscores a broader political and legal battle that has intensified as the House moves toward a potential vote on the Epstein files. With the discharge petition likely to be debated in December, the situation remains in flux, as both sides continue to argue over the necessity and implications of full disclosure.