Rep. Crockett Says GOP Will Avoid Epstein Records Vote: “They’re Going to Run Away”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) took aim at House Republicans over the weekend, accusing them of dodging efforts to force the release of government records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking during a Saturday interview on MSNBC, Crockett suggested that GOP lawmakers are unlikely to back any serious push for transparency.

“I absolutely think they are gonna run away with this as quickly as possible,” Crockett said. “I don’t anticipate that we will get to any resolution on this.”

Crockett’s comments come amid growing tension on Capitol Hill over the handling of the Epstein investigation. While some lawmakers are pushing for the Department of Justice to make its full case file public, momentum has been slowed by competing proposals and political finger-pointing.

A bipartisan petition, led by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), aims to force a House vote on releasing all Epstein-related records once a majority of lawmakers sign on. So far, at least 10 Republicans have added their names.

At the same time, a separate proposal approved by the House Rules Committee last week would give the DOJ more discretion over which documents to make public, potentially limiting transparency.

The debate reignited after a Wall Street Journal report last week alleged President Trump once sent Epstein a “bawdy” birthday message in 2003. Trump has denied the story, calling the letter a fake and launching a lawsuit against the publication. Many of his allies have rallied to his defense, echoing his criticism and suggesting the story was politically motivated.

Despite Trump’s denial—and Republican efforts to downplay the controversy—Crockett and other Democrats argue that the issue still deserves full investigation and disclosure.

Crockett, known for her outspoken style, also suggested Trump is actively trying to keep information buried. “If he’s trying to hide it, they understand that it is most likely problematic for him, as well as the MAGA brand, as well the Republicans,” she said.

The Texas lawmaker has gained a large social media following in recent months for her sharp remarks in both interviews and committee hearings. During the MSNBC segment, she said bluntly that Republicans are unlikely to support any move that could potentially harm Trump’s standing.

“They know that he does not want this released,” Crockett added. “So, I don’t anticipate that they will be on board for doing anything that may harm them or their fearless leader.”

With growing public pressure and bipartisan interest, the future of the Epstein records push remains uncertain. But the political divide surrounding it appears to be deepening.