Senate Republicans moved to block an effort from their Democratic counterparts Thursday afternoon to demand the Trump administration to release records related to the convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Democratic Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a rumored 2028 presidential candidate, asked for unanimous consent to pass his non-binding resolution demanding the Department of Justice to release “appropriate, non-sensitive materials” related to Epstein. Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin objected on behalf of Senate Republicans, arguing Gallego’s resolution was “political theater.”
“It’s so obvious that the Democrats are just using this for a political football,” Mullin said. “If they’re really serious about it — what happened the last four years?”
“And now all of a sudden they want to make something of this. Are you kidding me?” Mullin continued. “This is nothing more than just political theater trying to go after a president that they truly despise.”
President Donald Trump referred to the Epstein controversy as a “hoax” and blasted “PAST supporters [who] have bought into this ‘bullshit,’” in a post on the social media platform Truth Social Wednesday.
The president has urged his supporters to move on from concern about the Epstein case following outrage that the Department of Justice and FBI memo announced in a joint memo that they had no further information to share with the public about a purported client list or the circumstances regarding Epstein’s death.
“I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring, and I don’t understand why it keeps going. “
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday that Trump will not recommend the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the Epstein case.
Democratic lawmakers have sought to capitalize on the administration’s reluctance to publish additional information pertaining to Epstein by forcing Republicans to vote on resolutions demanding the release of the files.
“The American people are done with the games, the lies, and two systems of justice — one for the elites, and another for everyone else,” Gallego said in a statement Wednesday. “I urge my colleagues to join me in demanding the Justice Department release the Epstein files.”
Gallego did not offer a similar resolution under former President Joe Biden who did not attempt to release additional materials related to Epstein in the federal government’s possession.
His measure states in part: “Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Justice should release appropriate, non-sensitive materials related to the investigation of Jeffery Epstein to restore public trust, affirm institutional accountability, and prevent the politicization of justice.”
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