Senate Majority Leader Supports Epstein Document Transparency
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) voiced his support on Wednesday for the complete release of government documents related to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein. He emphasized that “at some point there will be a solution” to the frustrations expressed by President Trump’s supporters regarding how these documents have been managed.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Special Report” with Bret Baier, Thune stated, “We are all interested in making sure that justice is provided, there is full disclosure and there is transparency in this.” His remarks come after the FBI and Department of Justice recently published an unsigned memo detailing their conclusions from a “systematic review” of the Epstein case.
This review reportedly determined that there was “no credible evidence” justifying investigations against certain prominent individuals or unnamed third parties related to Epstein, who died in a Manhattan jail on August 10, 2019. The memo also included a link to surveillance footage from the prison, indicating that no one was present in Epstein’s cell at the time he took his own life.
Earlier in the week, Trump accused former allies of perpetuating a “Jeffrey Epstein hoax,” labeling the situation as “fraud” linked to documents from the prior Democratic administration. He referred to those seeking more details about the incident as “weak people,” and declared that he no longer wanted their support.
Thune remarked, “The president and Attorney General Pam Bondi will make the right decision, but I always believe in transparency.” He added that he thinks even more openness would be beneficial.
Thune also indicated there had been maybe an “unrealistic expectation” surrounding what the Trump administration could disclose regarding the Epstein investigations. Similarly, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has backed the call for transparency in the Epstein probe, stating, “It’s a very sensitive subject, but we should put everything out there and let people decide,” during a conversation with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson.
Polling data indicates that a majority of Americans disapprove of how the Trump administration has handled the Epstein documents. A recent national survey from Quinnipiac University found that 63% of respondents disapproved of the administration’s approach, whereas only 37% approved. Among Republican voters, 40% supported Trump’s management of the Epstein situation, compared to 36% who disapproved.
