Former President Donald Trump is urging Republicans in Congress to steer clear of the escalating fight over the Jeffrey Epstein files, warning that Democrats are trying to lure them into a political “trap.”
Trump’s comments came after House Democrats released three previously unseen emails from Epstein earlier this week — messages that mention the former president by name.
“There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Any Republicans involved should be focused only on reopening our country and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!”
Trump Claims Epstein Controversy Is a Political Diversion
In his post, Trump accused Democrats of resurfacing the Epstein issue as a distraction following their defeat in the government shutdown standoff.
“The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein hoax again because they’ll do anything to deflect from how badly they’ve handled the shutdown and so many other issues,” Trump wrote. “Only a very bad or stupid Republican would fall into that trap.”
The controversy erupted after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released emails written by Epstein in 2011. In one of them, Epstein alleged that Trump “knew about the girls” and had “spent hours” at his home with one of his victims — a claim that has never been corroborated.
Republicans Split Over Epstein File Vote
Four House Republicans — Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Nancy Mace (S.C.), and Thomas Massie (Ky.) — have broken ranks with party leadership to join Democrats in supporting a discharge petition.
The measure seeks to force a vote compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related documents to the public.
The petition reached the required 218 signatures on Nov. 12, following the swearing-in of newly elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva of Arizona — but the count will only hold if all four Republicans keep their names attached.
Behind-the-Scenes Pressure
According to a report in The New York Times, Trump personally called Rep. Boebert on Nov. 11 to urge her to reconsider her support for the petition. The next day, Boebert reportedly met with White House officials to discuss the issue.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to confirm the meeting when pressed by reporters.
“Doesn’t that show the level of transparency — that we’re willing to sit down with members of Congress and address their concerns?” Leavitt said.
However, Leavitt sidestepped questions about the contents of the Epstein emails, including one suggesting Trump spent time with one of Epstein’s victims.
“These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong,” she stated.