Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is pushing for a deeper dive into the Jeffrey Epstein case, going beyond the reported birthday letter allegedly written by Donald Trump. Massie is backing Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna's calls to subpoena Epstein's estate for all relevant documents, including financial records.
"Well, I think we should get a lot more than just the book. Let's get the financial records of the estate. Where is it -- follow the money, as they say up here," Massie stated on ABC News' "This Week." He also emphasized the need to scrutinize Epstein's plea bargain, questioning the details of the deal that was made.
The Wall Street Journal reported on a birthday message Trump purportedly wrote for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denies the letter's existence and is suing the Journal for defamation. ABC News has not independently verified the letter.
Massie and Khanna have introduced bipartisan legislation that would compel a House vote on releasing the Epstein files. However, Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned the House for August recess ahead of schedule, effectively avoiding the vote. Massie and Khanna are now pursuing a discharge petition, requiring 218 House member signatures to bypass Johnson and force a vote.
"It would force a full release of the files. It has the force of law. It's not a subpoena. It's not a 'Pretty please, would you release the files?' It's the force of law and, it's got protections to redact victims' names and to prevent, you know, release of child pornography," Massie explained.
Key Demands:
- Full financial records of Epstein's estate
- Transparency regarding Epstein's plea bargain
- Release of all Epstein files with appropriate protections for victims
What's Next?
The push for a discharge petition signals a continued effort to bring the Epstein files to light, despite resistance. The bipartisan support suggests a growing demand for transparency in the case.