Donald Trump has stirred controversy by suggesting that unidentified individuals might have inserted new material into the Epstein files following the election.
During a conversation aboard Air Force One on Friday evening, the former president’s remarks sparked fresh conspiracy theories. This comes at a critical moment as Congress gears up for an intense vote aimed at compelling the full disclosure of all documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump addressed reporters, asserting that any incriminating evidence would have emerged earlier if it were authentic.
“If they had anything, they would have used it before the election, okay? I can’t tell you what they put in since the [2024] election,” Trump remarked, hinting that federal officials might have added new information to the cache of documents after he returned to the White House.
His statements coincide with a growing conflict on Capitol Hill, where both Republicans and Democrats are demanding the Justice Department release the complete set of Epstein-related files.
These comments have added another layer of uncertainty to an already heated debate, as Trump once again finds himself under examination for his prior connections with Epstein.
Thousands of pages already been dumped by both parties in a bitter clash over transparency but Trump framed the timing of the disclosures as suspicious, arguing that any damaging material ‘would have been used before the election.’
Pressed on why his team discouraged Reps. Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace from pushing for a full release, Trump dismissed the political fray.
Donald Trump has suggested unnamed officials may have added material to the Epstein files ‘since the election’
This 1997 photo shows then real estate developer Donald Trump (right) alongside Jeffrey Epstein (left), the pedophile sex offender who died in prison in 2019
Trump wrote a lengthy rambling post to Truth Social on Sunday night attempting to shift blame on the Epstein ‘hoax’ to the Democrats
‘Because we think it’s bad to talk about it, because it gets away from the subject of how well the Republicans are doing.’
Trump’s remarks came as House lawmakers, including a wave of Republicans, prepared to buck the president and Speaker Mike Johnson by backing a bill to force the Justice Department to release all Epstein records.
‘There could be 100 or more’ GOP votes, predicted Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie who co-sponsored the discharge petition with California Rep. Ro Khanna.
Massie openly signaled a rebellion against his own party leadership, saying Johnson, Trump and others ‘would be taking a big loss this week.’
Massie warned colleagues terrified of losing Trump’s endorsement that voting ‘no’ would leave a mark ‘that could hurt their political prospects in the long term.’
‘The record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump’s presidency,’ he said.
Johnson, who had derided the petition as a ‘little gambit’, struck a resigned tone as the tide turned. ‘We’ll just get this done and move it on. There’s nothing to hide.’
But Democrats accused Johnson of stalling earlier in the year, delaying the seating of Rep. Adelita Grijalva so she couldn’t become the pivotal 218th signature. She signed the petition moments after being sworn in.
Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide. Both Republicans and Democrats are pushing to compel the Justice Department to release every Epstein-related document in a vote this week
A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The vote is expected to be one of the most dramatic of the year, driven by new documents including a 2019 email from Epstein claiming Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ which the White House labeled a ‘selective leak’ meant to smear the president.
Khanna said he did not know ‘how involved Trump was’ but insisted ‘a lot of other people’ must be held accountable.
He urged Trump to meet with abuse survivors who will be at the Capitol.
Trump suggested while campaigning last year that he’d seek to open up the government’s case files on Epstein, but changed course in recent months, blaming Democrats and blasting the document-release push as a ‘Democrat hoax.’
But behind the bluster, the Department of Justice has taken dramatic steps in response to his demands.
At the president’s urging, Attorney General Pam Bondi said she ordered US Attorney Jay Clayton to investigate Epstein’s ties to Trump’s rivals, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman – none of whom have been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s victims.
‘This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats. Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island’. ‘Stay tuned!!!
‘This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam,’ Trump posted, insisting the ‘Epstein Hoax’ was aimed at him.
‘This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam,’ Trump posted on Friday morning, insisting the ‘Epstein Hoax’ was aimed at him
Trump has recently attempted to blame the Democrats for Epstein letter. Pictured, infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell at Bill Clinton’s White House
The DOJ and FBI have previously stated how say no one else will be arrested and charged in connection to Epstein’s crimes. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell (right) is already serving a 20-year prison sentence. Trump is pictured in February 2000
Asked whether a president should be directing such investigations, Trump defended his decision.
‘I’m the chief law enforcement officer of the country. I’m allowed to do it.’
Trump’s relationship with Epstein, once a fixture in Palm Beach and New York social scenes, has long hovered over him despite no accusations of wrongdoing from Epstein’s victims.
His name appears in records released by his own Justice Department in February, alongside a long list of political and celebrity figures.
Clinton’s office responded to the latest email release by dismissing allegations outright.
‘These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else,’ his deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña posted.
Hoffman, the LinkedIn founder, demanded Trump release every file, calling suggestions he may be implicated ‘political persecution and slander.’
Summers expressed ‘great regrets’ over ever associating with Epstein.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase, which Epstein banked with for years, said it ‘regretted associating’ with him and has paid millions in settlements to victims.
