Trump Urges DOJ to Embarrass Democrats in Epstein Files

President Donald Trump has explicitly called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to weaponize the ongoing release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, urging officials to publicly expose and "embarrass" Democrats linked to the disgraced financier. Consequently, this demand marks a significant escalation in rhetoric as the government struggles to process a massive trove of newly discovered records. Specifically, Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday, December 27, to frame the document release not as a transparency effort, but as a partisan tool. Despite signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law himself on November 19, the President now characterizes the investigation as a "Democrat inspired Hoax" designed to distract from his administration's successes. The "Embarrass Them" Mandate In his fiery post, Trump rejected the idea that Republicans shared any culpability in the Epstein scandal. Instead, he insisted that the illicit activities were exclusive to his political rivals. “The Dems are the ones who worked with Epstein, not the Republicans. Release all of their names, embarrass them, and get back to helping our Country!” Trump wrote. Furthermore, he argued that the focus on Epstein serves as a smokescreen. “The Radical Left doesn’t want people talking about TRUMP & REPUBLICAN SUCCESS, only a long ago dead Jeffrey Epstein — Just another Witch Hunt!!!” This rhetoric mirrors a Christmas message he posted just days earlier, where he targeted the "sleazebags" who associated with Epstein. In that instance, he predicted that once officials reveal the names, they will turn out to be "Democrats all," and warned of a reckoning for those who "dropped him like a dog" as public scrutiny intensified. The One Million Page Delay Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is grappling with a logistical nightmare. Although the agency began releasing records on December 19 to meet the statutory 30-day deadline, officials announced a major hurdle on Christmas Eve. On December 24, federal prosecutors and the FBI identified more than one million additional pages of Epstein-related documents. As a result, the DOJ warned that processing and redacting these files for public release would take weeks. Currently, the slow pace has prompted accusations from some lawmakers that the administration is violating the disclosure law. Trump seized on this delay to fuel his narrative. He complained that investigators have found 1,000,000 more pages on Epstein and that this "Democrat inspired Hoax" is forcing the DOJ to spend all its time on it. A Bipartisan Reality Contrary to Trump’s claim that the scandal involves only Democrats, the released files paint a picture of Epstein’s vast, bipartisan social network. Indeed, Epstein, a wealthy financier who died by suicide in jail in 2019, cultivated relationships with powerful figures across politics, business, and entertainment. Notably, the newly released documents contain references to President Trump himself. Specifically, they include mentions of flights Trump took on Epstein’s private plane during their long-standing friendship in the 1990s—a relationship that soured years before Epstein’s initial arrest. similarly, the files include photographs of former Democratic President Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals. However, it is crucial to note that authorities have not accused either Trump or Clinton of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein based on these files. Currently, many of the documents remain heavily redacted, leaving the full scope of Epstein’s network partially obscured. Conclusion Ultimately, the President’s demand to "embarrass" Democrats highlights the politicized nature of the disclosure. While the DOJ continues its review of the remaining millions of pages, the public awaits the unredacted truth. Whether the files will serve as the partisan weapon Trump desires, or simply reveal a cross-party web of influence, remains the central question of the coming weeks.