Dems fumble when asked why they didn’t release Epstein files when they controlled Congress

When Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) appeared on "Morning Joe," Joe Scarborough pressed the lawmaker on why the Democrats had failed to release them, and were only pushing to release the Epstein files now that the GOP holds the White House and Congress. Raskin was not able to answer.

"But, Congressman, you could have gotten that from '21 to '25, when Democrats controlled DOJ. Why — it was a crisis then. It’s a crisis now. Why didn’t Democrats call for it from '21 to '25?" Scarborough said.

"So, I mean, you’d have to go back and look specifically at particular prosecutorial decisions and what was taking place in terms of the other cases. So, I don’t know, we could try to reconstruct that record," Raskin replied.

Since the issue has become a hot topic, with calls for transparency targeting the Trump administration, Democrats have seized on the issue, pressuring the GOP to release all documents related to Epstein.

CNN's Pamela Brown also asked Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) about the same topic, "If you see such a need to investigate this, why didn’t you raise it during the Biden administration? We couldn’t find that you made any public comments about Epstein in previous administrations."

Jayapal did not have a solid answer, but replied, "I would have been happy to raise it then as well. Frankly, we were focused on so many different pieces."

The disgraced financier killed himself in his prison cell in 2019, according to a conclusive memo drafted by the Department of Justice. He had been awaiting trial on a slew of child sex crimes as well as sex trafficking charges. There have been a number of conspiracy theories behind Epstein's death, as well as theories that he blackmailed elite figures who were connected to his crimes.

The DOJ memo, however, stated that there was not a "client list," and that there are no third parties that need to be prosecuted. The case has been brought under heavier scrutiny now after Attorney General Pam Bondi invited several conservative influencers to the White House for "Phase 1" of the Epstein files release, with many to then find out the documents released had already been made public.

On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump called on Bondi to release all documents that can be disclosed with court approval, “Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to court approval."

Bondi responded on X shortly afterwards, “President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”

Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday, "If there was a 'smoking gun' on Epstein, why didn’t the Dems, who controlled the 'files' for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!"