Donald Trump has a ten-day window to approve the bill mandating the disclosure of the Epstein files, following its passage by Congress late last night. Initially, Trump resisted the release of the files and urged House members to distance themselves from the petition demanding it.
However, his stance shifted earlier this week as he expressed support for House Republicans to pass the measure, which stipulates the files must be made available in a searchable format within 30 days. Trump’s argument is centered on the notion that he is unconcerned about the files being publicized, citing that Jeffrey Epstein’s associates were predominantly Democrats.
In a recent statement, Trump affirmed his intention to sign the bill once it lands on his desk, emphasizing, “We have no ties to Epstein. The Democrats do. All of his associates were Democrats.” He further emphasized, “Let the Senate review it. Let anyone review it. But let’s not dwell on it too much because, frankly… it’s primarily a Democratic issue. Epstein’s associates were all Democrats. It’s a sham. The entire situation is a sham, and I don’t want to detract from the considerable achievements of the Republican Party in recent times.”
The implication here is that Trump could not possibly feature in the files due to his Republican affiliation. However, there is a flaw in this argument.
Donald Trump maintained a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein from the late 80s until approximately 2007, when he claims he barred the infamous pedophile from his Mar A Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Besides his association with Epstein, Trump was also affiliated with the Democratic Party for a significant part of that period.
During the timeframe of the Justice Department’s inquiry – which aligns with the years covered in Epstein’s federal indictment (2002-2005) – Trump was both a friend of Epstein and a registered Democrat.
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