A resolution introduced by House Democrats to force a vote on releasing files related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein failed on July 15. It was the latest move by Democrats to do so in recent days.
In a 211–210 vote split entirely along party lines, the resolution to release the files was voted down in the House.
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), who introduced the nonbinding resolution, said on the House floor that the files should be released because “predators” such as Epstein, who died in August 2019, as well as collaborators, should “face consequences.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), ranking member of the House Rules Committee, attempted a committee vote on releasing the files on July 14. The effort failed, with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) being the only Republican on the panel to vote in favor.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told podcaster Benny Johnson in a video interview that he supports releasing the files but opposed Democrats’ procedural motion.
“I’m for transparency,” Johnson told Benny Johnson. “It’s a very delicate subject but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.”
Democrats’ bids to force a vote this week appear to be attempts to capitalize on the controversy surrounding the files.
Earlier this month the Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded that Epstein didn’t have a “client list.” The DOJ said that it believes Epstein killed himself in August 2019, contrary to claims made by his brother and others.
“What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?’” Trump said in a July 12 post on his social media platform, Truth Social. “They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening.”
He added that “we have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and ‘selfish people’ are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein.”
Before the 2019 federal indictment, Epstein had pled guilty in a Florida state court in 2008 to charges of soliciting prostitution and procuring a minor for prostitution. He ultimately served 13 months in prison following his 2008 guilty plea.
At a July 8 Cabinet meeting, a reporter asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to address a claim that Epstein had been an intelligence community asset.
“I have no knowledge about that,” she said. “We can get back to you on that.”
During that Cabinet meeting, Bondi also said a missing minute from a prison surveillance tape on the night Epstein died in his cell was a normal circumstance due to a technical glitch in the camera system.
Trump suggested in the post that nothing in the Epstein files “could have hurt the MAGA Movement“ and added that people need to allow Bondi to ”do her job.”
The Epoch Times contacted the House GOP for comment on Tuesday.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
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