Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) slammed congressional Republicans in a Saturday MSNBC interview over efforts in the House to force a vote on releasing investigative records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Crockett accused Republicans of not wanting to pursue a measure that would force the Department of Justice to release all of its files on Epstein, who died in prison as he faced charges of sexual trafficking.
“I absolutely think they are gonna run away with this as quickly as possible,” Crockett said. “I don’t anticipate that we will get to any resolution on this.”
It’s not entirely clear what will happen with the controversy surrounding Epstein this week.
For much of the month, President Trump’s supporters have been divided over whether information should be released; much of the MAGA movement was upset over a report from the Department of Justice that said its evidence showed Epstein died by suicide in prison, and that there was no “clients list.”
A petition in the House led by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) could force a floor vote on releasing files related to Epstein once it acquires a majority of signatures in the chamber. At least 10 Republicans have signed on so far.
Separately, the House Rules Committee last week advanced another measure that would give the Department of Justice more discretion over what to release.
A Wall Street Journal story Thursday that alleges Trump wrote Epstein a “bawdy” 50th birthday card in 2003 largely unified MAGA behind the president and may take the air out of the controversy. Trump has denied the Journal’s story and sued the company, and Republicans have echoed the president’s criticism.
But it’s not entirely clear if that will quiet calls for the release of all information held by the Justice Department.
Democrats have seized on the issue to try to force the GOP into difficult votes given the chaos it has caused Republicans.
Crockett, who has developed a big social media following with provocative comments during interviews and committee hearings, went as far as calling Trump a “wannabe Hitler” and said Republicans “know that he does not want this [the Epstein files] released.”
“If he’s trying to hide it, they understand that it is most likely problematic for him, as well as the MAGA brand, as well the Republicans,” Crockett said. “So, I don’t anticipate that they will be on board for doing anything that may harm them or their fearless leader.”
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