Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said Donald Trump may be covering for some of his wealthy friends named in the files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I think the best way to clear President Trump’s name is to release all the files. I actually don’t think he’s done anything criminal. I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his,” Massie told MSNBC host Chris Hayes in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
“Some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now. One of them is in Epstein’s black book,” he continued. “So, we’re getting close to the center of power here. And I think, you know, embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. We’ve got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated.”
The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released more than 33,000 pages of files related to Epstein. But, the documents were heavily redacted and many were already in the public domain.
Earlier Tuesday, Massie formally filed a discharge petition to force action on his bill with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to require the Trump administration to publicly disclose files and information related to Epstein.
The resolution only allows for redactions that “contain personally identifiable information of victims or victims’ personal and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
The petition requires 218 signatures which would allow it to circumvent House GOP leadership to force action on the resolution.
Every Democrat is expected to back the resolution. Three House Republicans — Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Nancy Mace of South Carolina — have signed on.
The measure now requires two more Republican votes, but the White House is reportedly threatening House Republicans to not sign the petition to release the Epstein files.
