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US Republicans tried to squelch the Epstein furore. Instead, they fed it
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A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol on Nov 12.
PHOTO: HAIYUN JIANG/NYTIMES
Michael Gold
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WASHINGTON – In September, when Democrats were threatening to jam up Congress by forcing votes on releasing the Epstein files, House GOP leaders devised a strategy to insulate themselves and deliver on President Donald Trump’s demand to shut the issue down.
Rather than facing a vote many Republicans desperately wanted to avoid on whether the files should come out, they would pass a measure that directed the House Oversight Committee to continue an investigation into the Epstein case that it had been conducting for weeks.
