Republican Lawmaker Questions Trump's Motives in Epstein Case
US President Donald Trump is confronting significant criticism from within his own political party regarding his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Republican congressman Thomas Massie has openly challenged the president, suggesting Trump's recent actions might represent a 'last-ditch effort' to prevent the full Epstein documents from becoming public.
Bipartisan Concerns Over White House Actions
Massie, who alongside Democratic congressman Ro Khanna leads the bipartisan push for complete government transparency regarding the Epstein case, expressed fresh concerns about the White House's latest manoeuvres. During an appearance on ABC's This Week programme, Massie specifically criticised Trump for directing attorney general Pam Bondi to examine Democrats with connections to Epstein.
'The president's been saying this is a hoax,' Massie stated, referencing Trump's repeated responses to calls for full file disclosure. 'He's been saying that for months. Well, he's just now decided to investigate a hoax, if it's a hoax.'
Massie articulated his primary concern regarding the timing of these investigations: 'If they have ongoing investigations in certain areas, those documents can't be released. So, this might be a big smokescreen, these investigations, to open a bunch of them, as a last-ditch effort to prevent the release of the Epstein files.'
GOP Rift Widens Over Document Release
The Republican discord extends beyond Massie. Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, traditionally a staunch Trump ally, has also demanded complete transparency regarding the Epstein documents, creating a visible rift with the president. In a separate development, Greene described Trump's recent remarks labelling her a 'traitor' and 'lunatic' as 'hurtful' during her interview on CNN's State of the Union, though she expressed hope for reconciliation despite their policy differences.
Other Significant US Developments
Meanwhile, in other notable US political developments:
Seventeen transgender US air force members have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for denying them early retirement pensions and benefits. The legal complaint describes the government's action as 'unlawful and invalid' following the air force's confirmation it would deny benefits to transgender service members with 15-18 years of experience.
In international security matters, the United States conducted another attack on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, resulting in three fatalities aboard. The US Southern Command confirmed the boat was in international waters when struck and was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route.
Additional developments include increased border patrol activity in North Carolina, commentary from former BBC director general Tony Hall regarding payments to Donald Trump, and White House efforts to reshore the rare-earth industry to American soil.
