Senator John Fetterman is taking a stance on the Jeffrey Epstein files that puts him at odds with his fellow Democrats. The Pennsylvania lawmaker says he's "not preoccupied" with the controversy surrounding the release of documents related to the convicted pedophile.
According to Daily Mail, Fetterman exclusively told the outlet last week that while "everybody thinks" Attorney General Pam Bondi should release the files, he personally doesn't dwell on the matter. "You know, we've had it for four years before, and we didn't release it," he said, appearing to criticize the previous Biden administration's handling of the documents.
Fetterman's comments come as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure from both sides of the political aisle to release the secret Epstein files. The senator was notably the only Democrat who voted to confirm Bondi as attorney general earlier this year.
The controversy surrounding the Epstein files has created unusual political alliances in Washington. President Trump's refusal to release the documents has drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, with many seeing it as a political vulnerability heading into next year's midterm elections.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an FBI investigation into whether foreign governments are attempting to use the Epstein files against Trump. The Democratic leader's move represents an effort to frame the scandal as a potential national security issue rather than just a political one.
Trump has dismissed the controversy as a "hoax" and suggested that the previous administration may have tampered with the files. "They put things in the file that was a fake," he claimed during a press conference in Scotland last month.
President Trump's past association with Jeffrey Epstein has fueled speculation about why the administration is hesitant to release the files. The two men moved in the same social circles during the late 1990s and early 2000s, appearing together at various events.
A Wall Street Journal report published earlier this month claimed Trump wrote Epstein a letter for his 50th birthday in 2003, accompanied by a sketch of a naked woman. The president has denied this reporting and sued the newspaper in response.
Another report by the same publication revealed that Attorney General Bondi informed Trump his name appears multiple times in the files. This disclosure has prompted theories about the Department of Justice's reluctance to make the documents public.
The political pressure to release the Epstein files has resulted in an unusual coalition of lawmakers from both parties. Progressive Democrat Ro Khanna and libertarian-minded Republican Thomas Massie recently introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would force Attorney General Bondi to release all unclassified materials related to Epstein.
Their legislation has garnered support from an ideologically diverse group of representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib on the left, as well as Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene on the right. This rare show of bipartisan cooperation underscores the widespread public interest in the case.
With just the ten Republican co-sponsors currently backing the resolution, it would easily secure the 218 votes needed for passage in the House. However, Speaker Mike Johnson sent representatives home for the August recess before a vote could take place.
Fetterman's comments on the Epstein files reflect his growing reputation as a Democrat willing to break with party orthodoxy. His decision to vote for Bondi's confirmation earlier this year already set him apart from his colleagues.
The Pennsylvania senator's independent streak has sometimes put him at odds with the Democratic establishment, particularly on issues related to Israel, immigration, and crime. This latest divergence from the party line on the Epstein files further cements his image as a political maverick.
Fetterman's remarks suggesting the Biden administration should have released the files during its tenure could be interpreted as criticism of his own party's handling of the matter. "We've had it for four years before, and we didn't release it," he noted, implying a double standard in the current demands for transparency.
