WASHINGTON, D.C. - The debate whether for the Trump administration to release files on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has ignited Capitol Hill. The President recently has called it a “hoax” and is frustrated with members in his party who are demanding the Justice Department to make the case public. 

“It's perpetrated by the Democrats and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats' work,” said the President. “The Democrats are good for nothing other than these hoaxes." 

Epstein moved within a circle of powerful elites and he was found to have killed himself in prison in 2019 as he was facing criminal child sex trafficking charges. Questions and conspiracy theories about his death and his relationships have circulated even after his death.  

There’s been outcry over the administration’s handling of Epstein related records after the Department of Justice recently announced they would not disclose more records on the case. 

"The President is posting we should all just move on, but I want to know what the hell is in these files,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D- MA) during a House Rules Committee meeting.  

The issue has now taken over the Capitol. Some of Trump’s strongest supporters breaking with him on this issue.  

“You need to have all of the credible information released for the American people to make their decision,” said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R- LA). “Protect the innocent. I mean there are whistle blowers, minors names involved related to Epstein obviously. You have to be careful to not release that.” 

Rep. Nick Langworthy (R- NY) who sits on the House Rules committee, voted down an amendment which was being tacked onto a crypto-related bill. The amendment would’ve forced the DOJ to publish the Epstein files. He explains why he voted no.  

“What the Democrats did is play a gotcha game while we’re debating a bill for a rule debate in committee,” said Rep. Langworthy. “They introduced on a cryptocurrency bill an amendment regarding the Epstein files. “While it may be deemed legally germane it certainly wasn’t germane to the topic at hand and it had no business in that legislation.” 

Langworthy said child exploiters needs to be prosecuted. He said those files could potentially have information on minors and victims.  

“We need to protect the victims and we have extremely sensitive information,” added Rep. Langworthy. “I think there needs to be more transparency on all of this and all of us are working here to figure out a way forward on how to do it the right way and not a Democrat partisan game in the middle of the night to try to push forward an amendment to a bill that has nothing to do with the Epstein files.” 

Republicans we heard from also stressed that the Justice Department needs to protect the victims of the Epstein sex scandal. They said sensitive information should be kept from the public eye.