Missouri senator said ‘release the Epstein files.’ Here’s what he says now
On at least two occasions over the past year, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt called for the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Open this stuff up. Release the Epstein files,” Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, told conservative talk show host Benny Johnson in January. “Open this stuff up. I’d vote for declassifying.”
Two months later, Schmitt went on the same show and said he would “absolutely” vote to release those documents, saying “there’s no reason any of that stuff should be secret.”
But amid mounting pressure and furor nationally over President Donald Trump administration’s handling of alleged files connected to Epstein, Schmitt appeared to change his tone. In an interview with Politico last week, the Republican senator was less definitive when asked about the files.
“I don’t know what they have,” Schmitt, a former Missouri attorney general, said in a video of the interview. “I don’t know what they don’t have. When you’re making a charging decision, obviously, you’re basing it on the information that’s in front of you. It’s just hard for me to opine on it.”
Schmitt’s apparent about-face illustrated a broader, tumultuous moment for Republicans and allies of Trump both in Missouri and nationally. Once a supercharged campaign issue fueled in part by Trump advocates, fallout over the Epstein files now threatens to divide Republicans and even his most fervent supporters.
The controversy is visible in Missouri, where Republican officials have routinely boasted close ties with the Trump administration. It’s even more conspicuous for Schmitt, who previously served as a key campaign surrogate before becoming a vocal ally for the Republican president.
However, in a follow-up statement to The Star on Thursday, a Schmitt spokesperson called for “all credible information” to be released. But the statement still placed Schmitt in staunch support of the Trump administration’s handling of the controversy.
“Senator Schmitt has been clear on his strong support for transparency on this case. All credible information related to the Epstein files that can be released should be released,” said Schmitt spokesperson DJ Griffin.
The statement from Griffin also referenced reports that the Justice Department met with longtime Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on Thursday, saying that Schmitt was supportive of that meeting and “the many additional steps President Trump is taking on the issue.”
“Senator Schmitt also doesn’t think Democrats in the Media and in Congress care much about the facts – they just care about attacking President Trump so I don’t think anyone should be taking guidance from them on this serious matter,” Griffin said.
Schmitt, who was poised to benefit from a close relationship with Trump, now appears to be walking a fine line that avoids criticizing the Trump administration’s failure to release files connected to Epstein while also calling for more transparency in the case.
Other Missouri Republicans appear to be taking a similar approach.
Schmitt’s Missouri counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Josh Hawley, said last week that Trump’s Department of Justice should “release everything they can.”
“Whatever is not under court order and sealed and personally, I think they ought to go to court and ask the court to unseal everything possible,” Hawley told St. Louis TV station KMOV. “Let’s have transparency and get all of this out into the public so that we can finally put the Epstein chapter behind us.”
Another Missouri Republican, Rep. Mark Alford, called the backlash over the Epstein files an “unfortunate sideshow” that should not be allowed to “tarnish the legacy of the greatest president of my lifetime.”
Alford, in a social media post earlier this month, called on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all files in the Justice Department’s possession. In a statement to The Star, Alford accused Democrats of “trying to weaponize this issue for partisan gain.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Eric Burlison told Missourinet last week he would support an investigation into the release of the files, saying “the American people are sick and tired of being lied to by their government or being the government holding these secrets that they deserve to know the truth on.”
Democrats have roundly criticized the Trump administration over the controversy. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, in a statement also pointed to the fact that House Republicans recessed session early to avoid a vote on whether to release Epstein documents.
“It is abundantly clear that the Trump administration is doing everything it can to keep the Epstein files buried – and we have to ask why. Americans deserve the truth. Full stop,” Cleaver said, adding that the decision to recess was about “shielding the elite, not serving the People,” which he called “utterly shameful.”
The Epstein controversy
Trump and his supporters have long elevated conspiracies about Epstein, including a promise on the 2024 campaign trail that he would declassify documents related to the now-deceased financier and sex offender.
While much of his background has been shrouded in mystery and subject of speculation, Epstein was known for his close ties to powerful celebrities and politicians — including Trump.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump told New York magazine in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
Despite their alleged ties, the Republican president has never been accused of wrongdoing connected to Epstein.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors between 2002 and 2005. He died in his jail cell in what was ruled a suicide, fueling a bevy of conspiracies due to Epstein’s alleged connections to the rich and powerful.
Earlier this year, Bondi told Fox News that Epstein’s client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” But a memo released by the Trump administration earlier this month contradicted those comments, saying that there was no list or “credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.”
The Trump administration’s memo has sparked a wave of backlash and calls for further investigations. In the face of the controversy, Trump has used his social media site Truth Social to push back on his critics and media coverage of the Epstein fallout.
