Trump said release the Epstein files—now Congress agrees

By RMV Editorial Board

Congress finally did what Washington avoided for years. The House went 423 to 1 and the Senate—unanimously. Washington doesn’t move like that unless people feel something shifting under their feet. Whatever held this shut is starting to give way.

For years Democratic leaders and their media allies pushed the idea that Jeffrey Epstein was a Trump problem. If Epstein’s name came up, Trump’s name came next. It was a neat little narrative that kept uncomfortable questions away from Democrats. 

Then Congress began releasing documents, and the story stopped cooperating. The clearest political fingerprints on the Epstein files now belong to Democrats, not Trump.

The evidence shows Epstein’s network cultivating political allies, guiding congressional questioning, advising Democratic donors—and being encouraged by anti-Trump media figures to damage Trump. 

Trump warned Democrats had more to fear from the Epstein files than he did. 

The Plaskett pipeline

The Stacey Plaskett evidence shows how Epstein played politics in real time. 

And on Nov. 17, a White House press release asked, why aren’t Democrats talking about the fact that Plaskett “solicited and was given $30,000” from Epstein for the DCCC after he was already a convicted sex offender. Or the fact that she “accepted maxed out donations” from Epstein for her own campaign. Or that Epstein’s own allies in the U.S. Virgin Islands wrote that “we would have a friend in Stacey” if he made those donations.

Five years later, that “friend” was seated in the Michael Cohen hearing. As the Washington Post documented, Epstein texted Plaskett in real time. He suggested questions about Trump’s grades, transcripts and former staff. She replied “Quick I’m up next,” used his cues, then kept messaging him as she adjusted her approach. The White House asked the obvious question: Why isn’t anyone talking about the fact she was “literally texting Epstein during a committee hearing?”

A convicted sex offender shaping a Democratic lawmaker’s questions during a hearing targeting a Republican president is not a footnote. It’s influence. And Democrats have stayed mostly quiet, unless they’re hinting that Trump had something nasty going on with Epstein.

The Wolff strategy

The Michael Wolff emails reveal something else: a coordinated effort to use Epstein as a weapon against Trump in 2016. Wolff urged Epstein to “create a political moment” and even “generate a debt” from Trump. He referenced the Clinton campaign’s research and media outlets preparing angles. He treated Epstein as a political asset.

Anyone who has watched Washington long enough knows exactly what this was. It wasn’t about justice or accountability. It was about timing. 

Trump warned that the Epstein narrative was being sculpted behind closed doors to wound him politically. The emails prove he wasn’t imagining it.

The donor network that stayed close

Epstein’s post-conviction network ran directly through Democratic circles.

Larry Summers exchanged months of messages with Epstein as recently as 2019. He leaned on Epstein for advice, forwarded academic emails, coordinated introductions and maintained a personal relationship long after Epstein’s crimes were known.

Reid Hoffman visited Epstein’s island, planned stays at his Manhattan townhouse and helped connect him to MIT Media Lab fundraising. He later apologized for it, but the facts remain.

Even the DNC was wooed by Epstein and refused to return $32,000 in donations. The White House asked, “Why aren’t Democrats talking about [that] fact?”

Major media outlets weren’t immune. Some of their own personalities socialized with Epstein after his conviction. Katie Couric attended dinner at his home and later brushed it off as curiosity. Somehow that curiosity never extended to the Democratic ties that defined Epstein’s real network.

The White House quipped: “Why aren’t Democrats talking about the fact that Bill Clinton traveled on Epstein’s aircraft 26 times?” Or the victim who wrote that she saw Clinton on Epstein’s island “with two young women.” Or the aide who corroborated it. 

These aren’t fringe rumors. They’re uncomfortable facts.

For once, we agree with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper

Then came a development we didn’t expect. Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper demanded the public release of the Epstein files. We were as surprised as anyone. For the first time in history, RMV finds itself in full agreement with both senators.

They thundered that withholding Epstein information “damages public trust” and that the Trump administration “betrayed Americans’ trust” by not releasing the files. Strong words. Almost heroic. And about 10 years late.

Where was this fire when Epstein’s network was funding their party, texting their colleague from the dais or vacationing with their megadonors? 

Why didn’t they demand transparency then? Why now?

The stampede for transparency

The new bill doesn’t just require release of the files. It forbids the Department of Justice from hiding them for “reputational or political reasons.” That clause didn’t appear by accident. Congress wrote it because that is exactly what the DOJ has been doing for years.

Trump himself said he’ll sign the bill immediately. His words were simple: “I’m all for it,” adding, “All of his friends were Democrats.” 

The truth Trump pointed to

The White House asked why Democrats refuse to talk about their Epstein ties. 

The documents, so far, answer the question. Epstein helped push a Democratic candidate into office. He coached a lawmaker during a hearing targeting Trump. He stayed close with Democratic donors and institutional powerbrokers. Media figures hostile to Trump encouraged him to intervene in the 2016 race. The DNC kept his money. Clinton flew on his plane 26 times.

Trump has never shied away from releasing the Epstein records. Democrats demand transparency only now, when their silence is no longer an option.

Trump didn’t wait for permission. He told Republicans on Nov. 16 to release the Epstein files because “we have nothing to hide” and said the only people who should fear the truth were the Democrats. Congress seemed to get the message.

Now the country deserves the full record. Every email. Every flight log. Every donor connection and visitor entry tied to Epstein. No redactions to protect institutions. No delays to shield reputations.

The truth won’t hurt America. It won’t shield the people who spent years trying to keep these materials out of sight.

And when the files are finally public, Americans can read them for themselves—instead of the narrative spin about what they contain.