GOP Members Now Believe Trump Is Named First In The Epstein Files • FrankNez Media

On August 12, 2025, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a persistent critic of President Donald Trump, announced a bipartisan effort with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) to force the release of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.

Massie and Khanna will host a September 3 press conference at the U.S. Capitol, featuring Epstein’s victims speaking publicly for the first time, to pressure the Trump administration into disclosing the long-sought documents.

The move, part of a broader campaign including a discharge petition and the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has intensified tensions with Trump, who has dismissed the issue as a “hoax” and faces growing GOP dissent over his refusal to honor a campaign promise to declassify the files, amid concerns about his own ties to Epstein.

Bipartisan Effort and Press Conference Details

Massie and Khanna’s initiative aims to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release Epstein’s investigative files, which could shed light on his connections to powerful figures.

The September 3 press conference will include survivors of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

Khanna told The Daily Beast, “The testimonials from Epstein’s victims are going to be explosive on Sept. 3, and I am confident all 212 Democrats will sign [the discharge petition] and we will have more than six Republicans sign,” referring to a congressional maneuver to bypass GOP leadership and force a House vote.

Their proposed Epstein Files Transparency Act would require Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all related documents in a searchable, downloadable format.

The effort follows a July 23, 2025, House Oversight Subcommittee vote, led by Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA), to subpoena the DOJ for Epstein files, passing 8-2 with bipartisan support, as reported by FrankNez Media.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) confirmed the DOJ would begin releasing some records on August 23 but missed an August 19 deadline due to the volume of documents, per The New York Times.

Trump’s Resistance and GOP Rift

Trump, who was friends with Epstein for over a decade, has faced scrutiny over his handling of the issue.

In 2002, he told New York Magazine, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with.”

Despite promising on the 2024 campaign trail to release the files, Trump reversed course, with the DOJ and FBI issuing a July 7 memo stating there was no “client list” and confirming Epstein’s 2019 death as suicide.

Trump called the controversy a “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” orchestrated by Democrats, writing on Truth Social on July 16, 2025, “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker.”

This stance has actually sparked a rare GOP revolt.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) admitted at a county GOP meeting that he believes Trump’s name is in the files but supports their release.

Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Kennedy (R-LA) have also called for transparency, with Tillis demanding, “Release the damn files.”

A Quinnipiac poll on July 16 showed 36% of Republicans disapprove of Trump’s handling, while a CBS/YouGov poll indicated 83% of Republicans want the files released.

What Will Happen Next?

Epstein’s victims have expressed frustration with the DOJ’s handling.

In letters to Judge Richard Berman, two anonymous victims accused the administration of prioritizing elites over survivors, with one writing, “You protect yourself and your powerful and wealthy ‘friends’ (not enemies) over the victims, why?” per The Daily Beast.

Massie’s defiance, rooted in his opposition to Trump’s $3.4 trillion “Big Beautiful” budget bill and U.S. support for Israel’s Gaza operations, has drawn Trump’s ire, with the president calling him the “worst Republican Congressman” on Truth Social.

As Congress returns, the Epstein files debate could further fracture the GOP, with Massie and Khanna’s push testing Trump’s grip on his base.

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