This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Despite their president's ongoing criticism of those demanding his Justice Department release more information about the Jeffrey Epstein case, Wednesday calling them "bad people" who've "bought into this 'bullsh**,' hook, line, and sinker," some Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed onto a discharge petition demanding release of all the files related to the late, disgraced sex offender.
The petition, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is a procedure tool that bypasses House leadership.
"In 7 days we can start collecting signatures," Explains Massie in an X post. "At 218 signatures, the House must vote on our bill requiring a full release of the Epstein files."
Continued Massie, "We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes. Americans were promised justice and transparency."
The "Epstein Files Transparency Act" would require the Department of Justice to declassify and release all Epstein-related documents, including investigative records, communications, flight logs, visitor lists, sealed agreements and any information involving known or suspected co-conspirators.
Current cosponsors of the bill, H.Res. 581, include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who posted, "The American people deserve and can handle the truth. Let's see the files."
Wrote Greene, "I am proudly cosponsoring and will sign the discharge petition. I will never protect pedophiles or the elites and their circles."
Other Republicans who have signed on are Reps. Jeff Van Drew, Eric Burlison and Tim Burchett.
Trump continued his denouncement of those demanding release of the files Wednesday, telling reporters in the Oval Office: "Republicans, some Republicans, got duped by the Democrats and they're following a Democrat playbook. It's no different than Russia, Russia, Russia and all the other hoaxes. It was started by the Democrats and some Republicans, in this case I was surprised, but they got duped."
The president is no fan of Massie, one of two House Republicans who voted against his big beautiful bill, saying the libertarian-leaning Kentucky lawmakers was "grandstanding."
