Rep. Massie Condemns Trump Administration's Handling of Epstein Files
In a fiery interview on ABC's "This Week" this Sunday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) launched a scathing critique against President Donald Trump, his Cabinet members, and other insiders for their management of documents linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Massie denounced what he termed the "Epstein class," referring to billionaires who socialized closely with individuals named in the files.
Trump's Transparency Promises Under Fire
Massie highlighted that Trump had previously pledged transparency regarding his interactions with such figures, despite having dinners with them in New York City and West Palm Beach. "Donald Trump told us that, even though he had dinner with these kinds of people, that he would be transparent," Massie stated. "But he's not. He's still in with the Epstein class." This accusation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump's past friendship with Epstein, who died in a federal jail cell in 2019 during Trump's prior term, with his death officially ruled a suicide but disputed by some, including Epstein's brother.
Stonewalling of File Releases and Congressional Efforts
During the 2024 campaign, Trump and his allies promised to release all Epstein-related files. However, once in office, they obstructed this release, with Trump dismissing the documents as a "Democrat hoax." Massie has been at the forefront of a congressional push to compel the disclosure of these files, which were eventually released in a heavily redacted form. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) revealed last week that searching the unredacted version for terms like "Don," "Donald," and "Trump" yielded over 1 million results, indicating extensive references.
Links to Trump Insiders and Denials of Wrongdoing
The files suggest that multiple Trump associates had deeper connections to Epstein than previously known, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz, and former White House strategist Steve Bannon. While the documents do not allege criminal activity by Trump or his team, and they have denied any misconduct, Massie used these ties to rebrand the administration. "This is the Epstein administration," he declared. "And they're attacking me for trying to get these files released." In response, Trump has frequently targeted Massie and endorsed his primary opponent in the upcoming midterm elections.
