Massie Brands Trump Era 'Epstein Administration' in Fiery Files Dispute
Republican congressman Thomas Massie has launched a blistering attack on former president Donald Trump, labelling his administration the "Epstein administration" during a heated television interview. The Kentucky representative made the explosive claim while discussing ongoing tensions over the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Discharge Petition Sparks Political Feud
Massie has emerged as Trump's primary Republican adversary following his leadership of a successful discharge petition last year. Alongside Democratic representative Ro Khanna, Massie spearheaded the legislative effort to compel the Justice Department to publish evidence gathered during its investigation into Epstein's extensive sex trafficking network.
The measure gained remarkable bipartisan support before being reluctantly signed into law by President Trump, creating a significant rift between the two Republicans that has only deepened with time.
"This Is the Epstein Administration"
During an appearance on ABC's This Week with Martha Raddatz, Massie responded to questions about Trump's anger toward him by accusing the former president's administration of continuing to shield influential individuals named in the Epstein files.
"Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these people in New York City and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent, but he's not. He's still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration," declared Massie. "There are billionaires that are friends with these people, and that's what I'm up against in D.C."
The White House has been contacted for comment regarding these serious allegations.
Contentious Testimony and Restricted Access
Massie's comments followed Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week, where lawmakers pressed her about redactions in the released files and delays in their publication. While the Justice Department maintains it has released all files pertaining to the Epstein investigation, Massie and other congressional members complain their access remains restricted.
Unredacted versions can only be viewed at DOJ headquarters under surveillance, with Massie alleging significant documents related to Virginia Giuffre's case have been withheld. "We want to be able to look at all these files. They can't keep those documents down after they've already produced them," he insisted during his television appearance.
Disturbing Content and Political Fallout
Congressional members who have viewed the unredacted files report they contain references to victims as young as nine years old. Democratic representative Jamie Raskin, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, criticized the extensive redactions in public versions.
"We didn't want to see any redactions of the names of co-conspirators, accomplices, enablers, abusers, rapists, simply to spare them potential embarrassment, political sensitivity or disgrace of some kind," Raskin stated last week. "And yet nonetheless, the Epstein documents that were released are filled with redactions of names and information about people who clearly are not victims and may fall into that other category."
Global Repercussions and Presidential Connections
The Epstein files have created international political turmoil, with former British ambassador and Labour peer Peter Mandelson resigning from the House of Lords following revelations about his association with Epstein. The controversy has placed pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding Mandelson's appointment.
While Trump's name appears extensively throughout the unredacted files according to Representative Raskin, the former president has not been formally accused of wrongdoing. However, his acknowledged friendship with Epstein and admission that Virginia Giuffre previously worked at Mar-a-Lago, where she met the convicted sex trafficker, have created significant political complications.
The Justice Department maintains its 2019 investigation uncovered no incriminating evidence against powerful figures beyond Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who remains imprisoned. Epstein was found dead in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges, with federal authorities ruling his death a suicide.
Despite Trump's repeated calls for Republican voters to abandon interest in the investigation, congressional scrutiny continues unabated, with Massie's inflammatory rhetoric highlighting the deepening divisions within the Republican Party over this sensitive matter.
