Spin Cycle: The Epstein Files Ride Again

A handful of Republicans have broken with President Donald Trump on whether or not to release files related to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — so naturally, they were the ones who got most of the airtime on Sunday morning’s political talk shows.

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

Two of the loudest Republican voices with regard to releasing the files, a move largely opposed by the White House, are Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — and as an added bonus, Trump had trashed both in insult-riddled social media posts just one day earlier. Massie appeared on ABC’s “This Week” to discuss the situation, and Greene sat down with “State of the Union” anchor Dana Bash on CNN. The remaining airtime was largely filled with Democrats who, despite having zero interest in releasing the files when former President Joe Biden was in office, have been flooding the zone with demands that they be made public immediately.

On “This Week,” even the framing of the story was presented as an attack on President Trump. His call for Epstein’s ties to former President Bill Clinton were portrayed as a deflection at best and political retribution at worst — and Attorney General Pam Bondi was painted as an obedient lapdog rather than a public official doing her job. The only people whose comments on the issue were presented were Democrats or Republicans who viewed that investigation as politically motivated.

The release of thousands of documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate is sparking questions about the sex offender’s relationship with President Trump. @marykbruce reports on the president’s response and pushback from longtime ally, Rep. Taylor Greene. https://t.co/g76EssDMR5 pic.twitter.com/9egecaZObI

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 16, 2025

Massie joined host Jonathan Karl to discuss whether or not the issue would even get a vote in the Senate, and Massie suggested that absent a vote called by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), senators could potentially force a vote by attaching the matter as an amendment to an unrelated bill.

“I just hope John Thune will do the right thing.”

After championing a House vote, Rep. Thomas Massie tells @jonkarl there are “other ways” the release of the Epstein files can be brought up for a vote in the Senate. https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0 pic.twitter.com/V3uM3PvQwK

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 16, 2025

Massie went on to say that he didn’t expect to see Donald Trump implicated by the release of the files, but that he would not be surprised to learn that the president was protecting people who might be. “I’ve never said these documents will implicate Donald Trump. I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends,” he said.

Rep. Massie says that he expects a “deluge” of House Republicans will vote to compel the release of the Epstein files: “I’ve never said these documents will implicate Donald Trump. I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends.” https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0 pic.twitter.com/fPhMYOYabf

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 16, 2025

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) took the opposite approach, telling Karl that he absolutely expected to see Trump “seriously implicated” when the files were released. “This is most likely the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the country,” he said.

“This is most likely the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the country.”

Sen. Murphy says that he believes President Trump is “seriously implicated” in the Epstein files, as the WH said that Epstein’s emails “prove absolutely nothing.” https://t.co/jFXObPLHp1 pic.twitter.com/JYCnKHSjwj

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 16, 2025

On CBS News, “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan spoke with Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) – and he argued that the House should just vote to release the files and “get it over with.”

“Let’s rip the Band-Aid off and get it done. And I wish the president realized that. The more the White House pushes back on this, it just looks bad,” he said, arguing that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) — who has opposed voting to release the files — “realizes the train has left the station on this.”

On the push to release the Epstein files, Republican Rep. Don Bacon says he thinks Speaker Johnson “realizes the train has left the station on this.”

“Let’s rip the Band-Aid off and get it done. And I wish the president realized that. The more the White House pushes back on… pic.twitter.com/z4wr1N2zqf

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 16, 2025

On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told host Kristen Welker that it was past time to release the files. He was far less concerned with having them made public just one year ago when Donald Trump was not the president.

.@kwelkernbc. The Epstein class needs to go.@RepThomasMassie and @mtgreenee are standing on Tuesday with survivors.

The vote is standing with forgotten Americans or the Epstein class. pic.twitter.com/NNVhiRfhGw

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 16, 2025

And on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Greene told anchor Dana Bash that her support for releasing the files was what had led to Trump’s very public attacks on her — up to his Saturday Truth Social posts withdrawing his endorsement of her and threatening to support a primary against her.

“Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files, and that is shocking,” she said. “I have no idea what’s in the files. I can’t even guess. But that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so hard?”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on why Trump is severing ties with her:

“Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files, and that is shocking… I have no idea what’s in the files. I can’t even guess. But that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so… pic.twitter.com/lpepWLaBJO

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) November 16, 2025

Despite the accusations made against Trump — primarily by Democrats — the people closest to Epstein have all claimed that Trump would not be implicated in any wrongdoing related to his relationship with Epstein. Convicted trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and late victim Virginia Giuffre both said under oath that Trump was not involved in anything illegal with regard to Epstein. In addition, Harvard professor emeritus — and Epstein’s former attorney — Alan Dershowitz has also denied Trump’s involvement in anything illegal.