Current U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related files to the House Oversight Committee, describing the matter as a “Democrat hoax” intended to undermine his presidency.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he supports making the files available but insisted that many individuals mentioned in them “don’t deserve to be.” He argued the investigation is politically motivated.
“I’m in support of keeping it open. People shouldn’t be hurt, but I’m in support of keeping it totally open. I couldn’t care less,” Trump said when asked about the committee’s access to Epstein-related materials.
He claimed Democrats are using the issue as a distraction from what he described as his administration’s achievements, while pointing to high-profile figures such as former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard President Lawrence Summers as individuals linked to Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), recently issued a subpoena to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) demanding Epstein records. In a statement, Comer confirmed the DOJ has begun producing documents and pledged to protect victims’ identities and ensure redactions of any child sexual abuse material.
“Officials with the Department of Justice have informed us that the Department will begin to provide Epstein-related records to the Oversight Committee this week on Friday,” Comer said. “There are many records in DOJ’s custody, and it will take the Department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted.”
Despite the committee’s announcement, Democrats criticized the DOJ’s initial response. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) argued that the DOJ provided little new information, stating:
“Only 3% of the documents given to the Oversight Committee are new. The rest are already in the public domain. Less than 1% of files have been released. DOJ is stonewalling.”
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) echoed those concerns, describing the production as “largely thousands of pages of recycled content already made available to the public.”
The release of the files has reignited debate on Capitol Hill, with Republicans seeking more disclosure and Democrats pressing the DOJ for greater transparency. The Oversight Committee has also subpoenaed several prominent figures—including Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Merrick Garland—for testimony.
The issue underscores broader political tensions surrounding Epstein’s connections to influential individuals and the extent of government transparency regarding the case.
