GOP Blocks Epstein Files Release, Backlash Grows

The Trump administration is facing escalating backlash from its MAGA base and bipartisan critics over the Justice Department’s refusal to release Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and its conclusion that Epstein died by suicide. House Republicans recently blocked a Democratic amendment that would have mandated the release of all Epstein files, with only Rep. Ralph Norman siding with Democrats, intensifying allegations of a coverup. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier statements about the files' existence have come under scrutiny after the DOJ’s latest memo denied such a list exists. Trump and his allies are urging supporters to move on, but figures like Lara Trump and Rep. Ro Khanna continue to demand transparency. Democrats are using the controversy as a political wedge, deepening divisions within the GOP and the Trump administration. The dispute highlights widespread mistrust and the political sensitivity surrounding the Epstein case.