Republicans are looking for ways to combat the rising anger over the release of the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatens to split the party.
As things heat up in the debate on whether the Trump administration should release the full files of Epstein, Republicans are focusing their efforts on the House Oversight investigation into former President Joe Biden’s use of the autopen.
“House Republicans aren’t going to be lectured on transparency from the Democrat Party that worked to cover up President Biden’s lack of fitness for office and his scandalous use of the autopen,” Johnson wrote on X.
The White House also jump-started its investigation into the Biden autopen on Thursday, the same day it was faced with a barrage of questions about the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
“The White House Counsel’s Office has launched their own investigation into former President Biden’s usage of the autopen,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced at Thursday’s press briefing, noting that the office has already requested relevant emails, communications, and other documents from the National Archives.
Friday will mark the fifth testimony the committee is conducting in its investigation into the Biden administration’s use of the autopen, with Annie Tomasini, who served as an assistant and deputy chief of staff to the president, set to appear for her deposition before the committee on Friday.
Prior to Biden’s presidency, Tomasini worked for Biden in the Senate, in his vice president office, and was the traveling chief of staff for Biden’s 2020 campaign, according to Legistorm. Two former Biden aides have appeared for closed-door, transcribed interviews, along with a former Biden aide and physician invoking their Fifth Amendment right during their depositions.
“I think the other bigger issue, in my opinion, is the issue of these autopen issues. You literally gave criminals a ‘get out of jail free card,’ and you talk about abuse of power,” Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) told the Washington Examiner.
“I think that is where we should focus our energy right now, because that’s real life,” he said.
But not all Republicans agree with this method of push back.
“It’s not even apples to oranges,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) told the Washington Examiner.
Burchett was one of nine Republicans to cosponsor Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) discharge petition to force the release of the Epstein files.
“Child molestation is the worst thing, ultimately the worst thing that anybody could ever do to somebody,” Burchett said.
Meanwhile, Democrats have leaned into slamming the Trump administration for its handling of the Epstein files. House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) sent a letter to Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) Tuesday asking to hold a hearing on the files and possibly subpoena members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
Raskin told the Washington Examiner the comparison is a “flimsy excuse.”
“They’ve got to find a better counter scandal than that,” Raskin said. “That is a really flimsy excuse for a scandal but okay.”
“I think in the middle of the Epstein scandal when Trump is trying to suppress the release of all the files, and all the documents, they should just try to change the subject, they should not be talking about transparency,” he added.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) posted on X Wednesday about former Biden aide, Anthony Bernal, invoking his Fifth Amendment right before the committee’s majority and minority counsel, calling it “the biggest cover-up in Oval Office history.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) quoted Comer’s post referring to the Epstein files, saying “really, Today of all days is the day you want to talk about cover ups?”
“I have a proposal for James Comer,” Moskowitz told the Washington Examiner.
“Here’s my proposal: I’ll meet him halfway. We should open up an investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein used an auto pen,” he joked.