Republican nailed for claiming he wants Epstein files — while failing to vote for release

Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) claims that he wants the files around the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein to be released — but refusing to support a bill demanding just that.

Writing on X Monday morning, Fulcher said, "Every single Epstein file should be released. The American People deserve truth and transparency and the victims deserve justice and respectful privacy protections."

But reporter Jamie Dupree, who writes the "Regular Order" Substack, pointed out, "GOP lawmakers like Rep. Russ Fulcher [R-ID] say that 'Every single Epstein file should be released.' But Fulcher is one of 215 Republicans who have refused to sign a discharge petition to force a vote on a bill to get more documents."

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) penned a "discharge petition," which would force a vote on their legislation to require that the files on Epstein, a convicted pedophile, be released in their entirety.

So far, four Republicans have signed their names while nearly all Democrats have, giving them the votes necessary to mandate the Justice Department release the files.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) lent his support to a measure that would merely ask the DOJ for the files and not mandate that they turn them over.

Several officials in President Donald Trump's administration pledged to release the files upon entering office. That has changed, however.