Progressive Activists Renew Pressure on Trump to Release Epstein Files
At the recent “Fighting for Our Future” summit hosted by Voters of Tomorrow in Washington, D.C., progressive activists sharpened their criticism of former President Donald Trump, calling for the complete release of all government records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The summit featured a lineup of prominent voices, including former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg, who accused Trump of orchestrating a “criminal cover-up” surrounding the Epstein case.
Hogg emphatically told Fox News Digital, “Trump absolutely should [release the files], but he won’t because he’s on the god damn list.” This claim directly conflicts with a recently released memo from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which explicitly states there is no such list implicating Trump or others.
What the DOJ Memo Revealed
The DOJ and FBI memo, made public earlier this month, reaffirmed that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019. The memo also clarified the nature of the sealed “Epstein files,” explaining they mainly consist of thousands of items related to illegal child sex abuse material and pornography, which remain under court seal to protect victims and ensure ongoing investigations.
Despite the DOJ’s position, Epstein-related transparency has become a high-profile issue on Capitol Hill. Bipartisan legislation, the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). This bill would require the House of Representatives to vote on the full disclosure of government records connected to Epstein, with necessary redactions to protect victim privacy and remove explicit content.
Summit Highlights: Voices Demand Transparency
During the summit, Hogg was joined by DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, who criticized Trump directly, saying, “This is a guy that ran for president talking about, caring about, law and order, and yet he is hiding the Epstein files in one of the greatest criminal cover-ups in American history.”
The White House swiftly dismissed these accusations. Harrison Fields, the White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, characterized Hogg’s statements as “Gen Z nonsense” and claimed “no one, including his own party, cares what that pipsqueak has to say.”
Political Maneuvering on Capitol Hill
Rep. Ro Khanna has aggressively pushed for a vote on the EFTA. Earlier this month, he attached a procedural vote on the bill to an unrelated cryptocurrency measure, hoping to force action. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cut the legislative session short for August recess, preventing a floor vote from taking place.
Speaker Johnson publicly stated that “all credible evidence should come out” but accused Democrats of using the Epstein files issue for political gain. Khanna responded, “The point was not to embarrass the president. But then Speaker Johnson shuts down the entire Congress. You’ve got to wonder, why are they doing that?”
Khanna also emphasized the importance of transparency regarding any possible connections Epstein may have had with “business leaders, political leaders, [and] foreign leaders.” He urged lawmakers to “get the facts out there” to restore public trust.
The Broader Epstein Files Debate
The call for transparency over Epstein-related files taps into longstanding public skepticism about powerful figures possibly being shielded from full accountability. Epstein’s criminal enterprise and connections to high-profile individuals continue to fuel demands for justice and openness.
While the DOJ and FBI maintain that the files remain sealed for legitimate reasons—including protecting victims and maintaining legal integrity—many activists and politicians insist that withholding the documents fuels conspiracy theories and prevents closure for victims.
As this political tug-of-war continues, the question remains: will Congress act decisively to bring Epstein’s secretive files into the light, or will the calls for transparency be stifled amid partisan politics?
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