Senator Shelley Moore Capito says information surrounding the government files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein should be released, although she is not sure an act of Congress would be necessary to do so.
“I don’t think this issue is going to go away,” said Capito, R-W.Va.
“Maybe it shouldn’t because I think it’s been talked about for years, and, you know, you have rumors and accusations and other things can only be founded or uncovered, whether they’re true or not, if everything’s finally released.”
Questions about the government’s possession of files related to an international sex trafficking ring and minors have heightened in recent days after the Department of Justice concluded there was no evidence that Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a “client list” or was murdered.
President Donald Trump has objected that continued attention to Epstein, once his friend, is a “hoax” and should not continue.
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The president’s comments and longstanding outrage over the activities surrounding Epstein have prompted incredulous comments from MAGA influencers who usually have taken Trump’s side.
“Why on earth is he doing this?” asked Riley Gaines, a swimmer now prominent for campaigning against transgender athletes in women’s sports and a frequent visitor to West Virginia for political appearances.
“Trump is trying to nuke his base,” posted Tim Pool, a rightwing podcaster who has had a skate park in Martinsburg.
The Epstein issue has taken root in Congress too.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaking earlier this week with rightwing podcaster Benny Johnson, called for the Department of Justice to make public documents related to the Epstein case. “It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,” the speaker said.
Legislation backed by Congressman Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and others would direct the Department of Justice to release more files on Epstein, despite Trump’s urging to drop the matter.
Co-sponsors for the legislation in the House of Representatives include Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Eric Burlison of Missouri and Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
The bill aims to make publicly available all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days of enactment.
That would include materials about Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs, individuals, and entities connected to Epstein’s activities, immunity deals and internal Department of Justice communications, along with information regarding Epstein’s detention and death.
While prohibiting withholding based on embarrassment or political sensitivity, the act would permit redactions for victim privacy, child sexual abuse materials, active investigations (temporarily), images of abuse or classified national security information, with all redactions requiring written justification and unclassified summaries for classified material.
Finally, it mandates a report to Congress outlining released and withheld records, including a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons mentioned.
Capito, responding to a MetroNews question during a Thursday afternoon news briefing, said she is not certain such legislation is necessary but does believe in greater transparency.
Capito said she believes President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi can be counted on to make relevant information public.
“I don’t think that we need to have congressional action on this, and so I haven’t actually voted on that. I don’t know that that’s an opportunity that I’ll have, or should have. I think the Department of Justice and the president are going to feel the pressure here,” Capito said.
“I just think full transparency is always. Full sunlight is always the best policy.”