On November 12, House Democrats released emails indicating that President Donald Trump may have known about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. The messages, dating from 2019, include a note from Epstein to author Michael Wolff claiming “Trump knew about the girls,” though the phrase’s exact meaning remains unclear.
The new disclosures are fueling momentum toward a vote on unsealing all non-classified Epstein documents, potentially reigniting a scandal that has long shadowed Trump’s political career. Advocates for transparency argue that full access to the files could shed light on powerful figures linked to Epstein’s network.
Trump, who has repeatedly denied awareness of Epstein’s crimes, has acknowledged a past friendship that cooled before Epstein’s 2019 death in a jail cell. On November 12, he blasted the Democrats’ move on Truth Social, accusing them of using the emails to distract from the ongoing government shutdown.
“The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects,” Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, recent polls indicate a majority of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown stalemate, undercutting Trump’s claim that the email release is a diversion tactic. As lawmakers prepare to vote, observers say the clash over Epstein files could become a flashpoint in the broader battle over accountability and transparency in Washington.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
