WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., stated President Donald Trump’s dealing with of the Jeffrey Epstein case has been “harmful” to his MAGA motion throughout an emotional press convention hours earlier than the Home was set to vote on releasing the entire Epstein information.
“I’ve by no means owed him something, however I fought for him, for the insurance policies and for America First, and he known as me a traitor for standing with these girls and refusing to take my title off the discharge petition,” Greene stated in a press convention, standing beside Epstein victims and households.
“Let me let you know what a traitor is: A traitor is an American that serves overseas nations and themselves,” she continued, flanked by Epstein survivors. “A patriot is an American that serves america of America, and People like the ladies standing behind me.”
Greene stated that the combat over the Epstein information and Trump’s dealing with of the state of affairs “has been one of the vital harmful issues to MAGA.”
“Watching this really flip right into a combat has ripped MAGA aside, and the one factor that may communicate to the highly effective, brave girls behind me is when motion is definitely taken to launch these information, and the American folks gained’t tolerate every other bulls—,” she stated.
Reached for touch upon the press convention, White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated, “Democrats and the media knew about Epstein and his victims for years and did nothing to assist them whereas President Trump was calling for transparency, and is now delivering on it with 1000’s of pages of paperwork as a part of the continuing Oversight investigation.”
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been pushing for the Justice Division to launch among the still-undisclosed Epstein information that the administration has not but launched. Trump has regularly referred to the push to launch the information as a “hoax,” together with throughout an unrelated White Home occasion on Tuesday.
The Home is predicted to vote on Tuesday on a invoice to compel the Justice Division to launch its Epstein information. The invoice would nonetheless must cross the Senate. On Monday, Trump stated that he would signal the laws if it passes each chambers of Congress.
Greene, as soon as one in all Trump’s closest allies, has more and more drifted away from the president in current months. The congresswoman has criticized the president’s sweeping tariffs and damaged along with his stance on Israel, referring to the battle in Gaza as a “genocide.” However the tensions got here to a head after Greene started to talk out towards the administration’s dealing with of the Epstein case.
Greene was an early vocal supporter of the bipartisan push to power the administration to launch the Epstein information. As she continued talking publicly concerning the controversy, Trump more and more lashed out on the congresswoman, in the end accusing her of complaining too usually and referring to her as “wacky,” a “traitor,” and a “shame” to the GOP.
Greene stated on Saturday and Sunday that Trump’s assaults on her have resulted in threats to her security, together with a pipe bomb menace. Requested about Greene’s claims that she was at risk, Trump stated, “I don’t assume her life is at risk. I don’t assume, frankly, I don’t assume anyone cares about her.”
The talk over the Epstein information has sparked uncommon divisions amongst Republican lawmakers, most of whom are sometimes in lock-step with Trump and the White Home.
All through Tuesday morning’s press convention, Epstein survivors additionally emphasised that the state of affairs ought to rise above partisan politics.
Jena-Lisa Jones, an Epstein survivor, criticized Trump for steering the Justice Division to research Epstein’s connections with Democrats and others.
“I encourage you, President Trump: Please cease making this political,” Jones stated. “It’s not about you, President Trump. You’re our president. Please begin performing prefer it. Present some class, present some actual management, present that you simply really care concerning the folks apart from your self.”
She stated that she voted for Trump, however known as his conduct on the Epstein controversy “a nationwide embarrassment.”
