Congressman Ro Khanna has emphasized that the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents represents a broader pursuit of justice rather than a targeted political attack against former President Donald Trump. The Democratic representative from California made these comments during a Sunday interview, stressing the need to hold all powerful men accountable for their involvement in the extensive sex-trafficking network.
Political Battle Over Epstein Documents Intensifies
Khanna, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, addressed the recent release of numerous emails from Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The disclosed correspondence includes disturbing messages where Epstein claimed Trump "knew about the girls" and suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin might possess compromising images of the former president.
The White House has aggressively pushed back against these revelations. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the email release as "selectively leaked" documents intended to "create a fake narrative to smear President Trump." This response comes despite Trump's previous calls during the 2024 campaign for full disclosure of Epstein files, a position he has since reversed by labeling current demands for transparency as "a Democrat hoax that never ends."
Bipartisan Push for Full Transparency
In a notable bipartisan effort, Khanna has joined forces with Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky to sponsor the "Epstein Files Transparency Act." This legislation, scheduled for House consideration as early as Tuesday, mandates the complete release of all documents connected to the Epstein case. The bill represents one of the few cross-party initiatives in a deeply divided Congress and underscores the widespread public demand for accountability.
When questioned on NBC's "Meet the Press" about potential political motivations behind the document releases, Khanna firmly rejected the premise. "If you gave me a choice, I'd rather the president reverse course. I'd rather he release all these files," Khanna stated. "Someone was saying that his numbers would go up. I don't care if he gets the political win. There is a group of rich and powerful men who abused young girls."
Seeking Justice for Survivors
The congressman expressed hope that Trump would meet with Epstein survivors during their planned visit to Washington, D.C., describing the abuse scandal as "the one thing this country agrees was horrible." Khanna emphasized the scale of the crimes, noting that Epstein had established "a rape island where rich and powerful men were abusing young girls with impunity" and that thousands of victims continue to seek justice.
In a surprising development Sunday evening, Trump appeared to reverse his position again, posting on Truth Social that House Republicans should vote to release the files, declaring "We have nothing to hide." This latest statement adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing political drama surrounding one of the most notorious sex trafficking cases in modern history.
Khanna concluded with a powerful statement about the need for comprehensive accountability: "This is not partisan. They all need to be held accountable. The Epstein class needs to go." His comments reflect growing pressure on authorities to ensure that all individuals involved in Epstein's network, regardless of their political affiliations or social status, face appropriate consequences for their actions.
