In shift, Trump says House should vote to release Epstein files

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🗞️ Driving the news: In a major reversal, President Donald Trump said House Republicans should vote to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files, after weeks of resisting the measure
• His shift came as momentum grew in the House, with lawmakers suggesting 100+ GOP members may now back the disclosure ahead of a high-stakes vote

🔭 The context: A bipartisan push led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) has accelerated in recent days, powered by a discharge petition and intense advocacy from Epstein survivors
• Trump had actively pressured Republicans not to support the proposal, calling attention to the files a political distraction, even urging signatories to withdraw
• But rising GOP support, a survivor-led national PSA campaign, and a planned Capitol press event forced a dramatic recalibration
• House Speaker Mike Johnson, who long blocked a vote, is expected to allow one, although he downplayed the move as “moot”

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Transparency, accountability, and public trust are foundational for robust climate governance
• Legislative conflicts like this — where political pressure tests institutions’ ability to disclose sensitive information — mirror similar tensions in environmental and climate-risk reporting, where public access to data is essential for societal oversight

⏭️ What’s next: If both chambers pass the measure, Trump himself must sign it. His new stance hints he may do so, though he continues calling the focus on the files a “hoax”
• Complicating matters: Trump has ordered a new DOJ investigation into Epstein’s ties with prominent Democrats, raising concerns that officials may use the probe to delay the release of documents
• Trump’s feud with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal supporter of disclosure, continues to escalate even as survivors rally behind her

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