Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) has sparked outrage by claiming unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files—released in January 2026 under the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act—name President Donald Trump “thousands and thousands of times,” including “highly disturbing allegations” of him raping and threatening to kill minors. These remarks, made during a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing confronting Attorney General Pam Bondi, accuse the DOJ of a cover-up and intensify Democratic calls for full transparency.
Clash Details
Lieu’s exchange with Bondi highlighted partisan rifts: Democrats demand unredacted access after a 2025 subpoena, while Republicans decry politicization. Trump denies all wrongdoing or Epstein ties beyond past acquaintance, with no charges filed; a New Yorker report notes an FBI document where Trump tipped off Palm Beach police about Epstein as early as 2006, calling Ghislaine Maxwell “evil.”
Broader Fallout Context
This escalates the Epstein scandal’s global ripples—from UN experts labeling it potential crimes against humanity [ from prior context], Reuters polls showing 69% American distrust in elite accountability [prior], UK probes into flights/Prince Andrew/Mandelson [prior], and Lords reform debates [prior]. Lieu urges media scrutiny, but skeptics see it as pre-midterm election theater amid steady public demands (75% suspect hidden client info) [prior]. No verified evidence of Lieu’s specific claims has surfaced publicly.
